The Royal Opera House Muscat has canceled its upcoming production of “The Merry Widow.” The operetta, which was set to be performed on Feb. 17, 18, and 19, was to be conducted by Marco Arturo Marelli with the Orchestra and Chorus from the Volksoper Wien. As a result, ticket holders will be notified of available refund options for the event. {…}
On Jan. 28, Rai 5 will present Verdi’s “Rigoletto” from the Royal Opera HouseMuscat. The broadcast will showcase Franco Zeffirelli’s final production, which premiered on Jan. 20 and starred Ambrogio Maestri in the title role. The cast also included Dmitry Korchak, Giuliana Gianfaldoni, Yulia Mazurova, and Riccardo Zanellato. Jan-Latham-Koenig conducted the Arena di Verona Orchestra. Of the new production, OperaWire {…}
On Jan. 22, the Royal Opera House Muscat presented its final performance of “Rigoletto.” On this evening, the opening cast returned in Franco Zeffirelli’s final production. The result was a performance filled with excellent singing that sometimes lacked drama and felt disconnected from the glorious production. A Return to Old Times Ambrogio Maestri led the cast singing the title role. {…}
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Royal Opera House Muscat recently opened its 2022 season with a historical production of “Rigoletto.” The version of the Verdi opera marks the final production that legendary director Franco Zeffirelli created for the opera stage before his death in 2019. It’s also a historical occasion because it marks the first time that audiences in {…}
The Royal Opera House Muscat has announced its new protocols for the safety against COVID-19. As a response to the rising number of Covid cases in Oman, the company’s Supreme Committee researched and decided on new guidelines for the safety of the performers, staff, and audience members. Now, performances will be held at 50 percent capacity to ensure social distance. {…}
(Credit: Gemma Escribano) Soprano Marina Monzó will perform the role of Die Königin der Nacht in the upcoming production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” at the Bayerische Staatsoper, replacing the originally scheduled Sabine Devieilhe. Monzó joins a cast that includes Pavol Breslik as Tamino, Olga Kulchynska as Pamina, and Günther Groissböck as Sarastro. The cast also includes Eliza Boom, Daria Proszek, {…}
The Royal Opera House Muscat has announced its tenth anniversary season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in production by Franco Zeffirelli. The new production is the final piece of work that Zeiffirelli left behind. The production will star Leo Nucci in the title role, Dmitry Korchak (Duke of Mantua), Giuliana Gianfaldoni (Gilda) and Ricardo Zanellato (Sparafucile). The orchestra and {…}
When the world of opera speaks of its development into the future, that evolution usually centers on conversations taking place in traditional opera settings, including Europe and North America. But the Middle East has not often been a major focal point of that conversation. Paolo Petrocelli, author of “The Evolution of Opera Theatre in the Middle East and North Africa” {…}
The Royal Opera House Muscat has canceled the rest of its 2019-20 season. The company stated, “due to our ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of our patrons, all activities for the remainder of the 2019/2020 season are cancelled. This is due to the public health and travel measures which have been put in place to address the threat {…}
(This review will focus on the Jan. 4 performance, though with mentions of the Jan. 3 performance as well.) There is a moment near the end of Davide Livermore’s “Die Zauberflöte” at Muscat’s Royal Opera House of Musical Arts in which Tamino and Pamino must face the trials by fire and water with the magic flute in tow. But Livermore {…}
(Credit: Joan Tomàs) Celso Albelo has canceled his debut at the Royal Opera House Muscat. The tenor canceled his appearance as Rodolfo in “La Bohème” due to a knee injury. As a result, Giorgio Berrugi will replace Albelo. Berrugi is an Italian tenor known throughout Europe who is set to return to the Teatro alla Scala this season and will {…}