Wednesday 12 / February / 2025
Muscat: Music lovers in Muscat are in for a treat on February 13, as the Royal Opera House Muscat presents an exciting concert that promises to be an unforgettable event.
While the evening’s programme, featuring Claudio Astronio, Gianluca Marciano, and the Piccoli Cantori di Torino Children’s Choir, is filled with captivating performances, the real star of the show is the magnificent pipe organ housed in the Opera House—a true national treasure.
The pipe organ at the Royal Opera House Muscat is one of the largest in the Middle East, with over 4,000 pipes.
Crafted by the renowned Klais Orgelbau in Germany, this extraordinary instrument stands as a masterpiece of engineering and design.
Its grand presence within the Opera House perfectly complements the stunning architecture of the venue, making it not just a musical instrument, but a defining feature of the space.
Notably, one of the organ pipes was specially designed in honour of Sultan Qaboos, cementing the deep connection between the Opera House and Oman’s cultural heritage.
What sets the pipe organ apart is its incredible range of sound. From the softest, ethereal whispers to powerful, thunderous notes, the organ's rich and resonant tones add a unique depth to any performance.
The sheer scale of the instrument allows it to create a dynamic and immersive atmosphere, whether it is in the context of classical music, opera, or contemporary compositions.
For this concert, the organ will be showcased in all its grandeur, with Claudio Astronio, a renowned organist, performing pieces that highlight its impressive capabilities.
Over the years, the Royal Opera House Muscat’s pipe organ has attracted some of the most celebrated organists in the world.
Among the giants who have performed on this remarkable instrument are Olivier Latry, the French organist and titular performer at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, who played in 2014, and David Briggs, a celebrated British organist known for his virtuosic technique, who performed in 2013.
Other renowned organists include Giampaolo Di Rosa (2016) and Hansjörg Albrecht (2017), whose performances have all contributed to the Opera House’s reputation as a premier venue for world-class organ music.
The technical wizardry behind the Royal Opera House Muscat’s pipe organ is just as impressive as its sound.
The organ has been designed with great flexibility, as it can be moved on a hydraulic system to allow the performance space to be adjusted depending on the size of the ensemble or the type of event.
This innovative feature ensures that the organ can be positioned for optimal acoustics in a variety of settings, making it an incredibly versatile instrument that can adapt to both large orchestral works and more intimate performances.
Its ability to transform the acoustics of the room adds to its status as one of the most impressive organs in the world.
The concert programme itself offers a delightful variety of music, featuring both choral and orchestral works.
The Piccoli Cantori di Torino Children’s Choir,
conducted by Elisa Dal Corso, will perform pieces ranging from the joyful I Feel Pretty from West Side Story to the evocative La voce del mare by Francesco Corrias.
The choir’s performance will be enriched by the Cheltenham Muscat Choir and Downe House Muscat Choir, who will add depth to the musical experience.
Their combined voices will bring a unique vibrancy to pieces by Henry Purcell, Giuseppe Verdi, and Jacques Offenbach, including the iconic Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann.
However, it is the organ that takes centre stage in the second part of the concert.
Astronio will perform a varied organ repertoire that spans centuries, from Baroque elegance in Nikolaus Bruhns’s works to the modern vibrancy of Philip Glass’s Mad Rush.
A highlight of the evening will be Handel’s Organ Concerto in G Minor, a piece that perfectly showcases the organ’s power and beauty.
Astronio’s solo performance of Mad Rush will demonstrate the versatility of the organ, transitioning from delicate,ethereal tones to bold, resonant sounds.
This concert is also a celebration of cultural exchange, with works that blend European classical music, modern compositions, and even film music, such as Voir sur ton chemin from Les Choristes and Eatnemen Vuelie by Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck.
This fusion of genres reflects the Royal Opera House Muscat’s commitment to fostering global dialogue through music.
The grandeur of the Opera House, with its world-class acoustics, provides the perfect setting for this extraordinary evening.
The combination of the choral, organ, and orchestral music will create an immersive atmosphere that will stay with audiences long after the final note.
This is a rare opportunity to experience exceptional musicianship and a one-of-a-kind musical instrument, making it a must- attend event for any music enthusiast.
Don’t miss this chance to witness the brilliance of the Royal Opera House Muscat’s pipe organ in action.
