The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) is set to inaugurate its 2026-27 season with Giuseppe Verdi’s opera *Rigoletto*, marking the start of events celebrating its 15th anniversary. The performances are scheduled for October 1 and 3 at 7 p.m., revisiting a production with strong historical ties to the institution.
ROHM’s relationship with this particular rendition of *Rigoletto* is closely linked to the late Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, whose work has been foundational to the opera house since its opening in 2011. Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s *Turandot* was the inaugural opera staged at the venue, and *Rigoletto* was the last operatic production he directed before his passing. The production was first introduced in Muscat in 2022 and features costumes designed by Academy Award-winning designer Maurizio Millenotti.
The staging exemplifies ROHM’s ongoing collaboration between international and local talent. The Omani Opera Choir will perform alongside visiting soloists, with 30 Omani extras also participating on stage. The musical direction will be led by conductor Evelino Pidò, who will conduct the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino and the Camerata Musicale di Parma Choir. Cast members include baritone Franco Vassallo in the title role, tenor Enea Scala as the Duke of Mantua, and soprano Maria Kokareva as Gilda. The production will also feature the Leoncello Historical Dance Group, presenting reconstructed period dances that enhance the opera’s historical atmosphere.
In addition to the two staged performances of *Rigoletto*, the anniversary season will include a concert on October 2 where conductor Karel Mark Chichon will lead the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino in a program featuring mezzo-soprano Elina Garanča.
The 15th anniversary season runs from October 2026 to May 2027 and comprises 28 productions across 43 performance nights. Among the highlights is *Sindbad: The Omani Sailor*, an original Arabic Grand Opera inspired by Oman’s maritime heritage with music by Hisham Gabr. Other notable presentations include Rudolf Nureyev’s *Don Quixote* by Teatro alla Scala Ballet, *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert*, and *The Opera!*, an immersive adaptation of *Orpheus and Eurydice*.
The program also features a range of other artistic offerings, including performances by organist Cameron Carpenter, *Homage to the Qanun* with Omani artist Wahab al Dhanki, the annual *Military Music: Oman and the World* event, and concerts by prominent Arab artists such as Nabeel Shuail, Nawal, and Aseel Abu Bakr.
Opening with Zeffirelli’s final operatic vision, the anniversary season underscores ROHM’s dedication to fostering international artistic exchange while continuing to showcase and involve Omani creative talent.