At the beginning of the 19th century, a small Venetian theatre called San Moisè was dedicated to the genre of the “farsa”—short, semi-serious one-act operas performed by a small company of six or seven singers, without a chorus, and accompanied by a modest orchestra. The barely twenty-year-old Gioachino Rossini found this environment ideal for honing his compositional skills and establishing {…}
(Photo: Khalid Al-Busaidi) On October 14th, 2011, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) opened its doors for its inaugural season with a production of Puccini’s “Turandot,” with the aim of establishing itself as a “centre of excellence in global cultural engagement.” It is a noble and ambitious aim, for sure, but for a country without a tradition of opera, it {…}
(Photo: Khalid Al-Busaidi) Although Maria Callas died almost 50 years ago, her name is still able to draw in the crowds. One of the headline offerings of the Royal Opera House Muscat’s (ROHM) current opera season was a concert entitled “Homage to Maria Callas,” which drew an enthusiastic audience. Of course, the presence of the fabulous soprano Sonya Yoncheva and {…}