Monday 01 / September / 2025
Muscat: The Royal Opera House Muscat unveiled its 2025–2026 Season, a radiant expression of its cultural project, which remains the essential scope and guiding purpose of the institution. This season is not only a celebration of performance, but also a living commitment to creativity, dialogue, and the power of culture to inspire and unite.
With more than fifty exceptional events — spanning opera, Arab music, orchestral concerts, ballet, jazz, family productions, and treasured global traditions — the program creates a vibrant meeting point of worlds, where East and West engage in harmony, and heritage flourishes alongside innovation.
Running from October 2025 to May 2026, the season invites audiences of all generations to embark on a journey of sound, beauty, and emotion — reaffirming culture as a shared treasure and the very heartbeat of the Royal Opera House Muscat’s mission.
SINDBAD: THE OMANI SAILOR - A LANDMARK WORLD PREMIERE GRAND OPERA ROOTED IN OMANI HERITAGE
Opening the season is Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, a world premiere opera that places Omani culture centre stage and marks a landmark in Arab grand opera.
This Royal Opera House Muscat production - in collaboration with MÜPA Budapest - features music by Egyptian composer Hisham Gabr, libretto by Nader Salah El Din and direction by Csaba Káel.
Sindbad: The Omani Sailor is a long-envisioned project now realized, it showcases the highest participation of Arab artists—from composer and librettist to performers—making it a truly authentic Arab production. With sets and costumes inspired by Oman, the opera places Omani heritage on the international stage, blending myth, music, and cultural identity in a historic debut. (3rd & 5th October).
ICONIC OPERAS: FROM GRAND DRAMA TO COMEDIC GEM
Opera lovers can look forward to powerful productions of enduring masterpieces. Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, performed by the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre directed by Davide Livermore, and conducted by the brilliant Fabio Mastrangelo, brings sweeping passion and high-stakes drama to the stage (29th & 31st January).
Later in the season, Giuseppe Donizetti’s beloved Don Pasquale offers a refreshing counterpoint, an effervescent comic opera brought to life with flair by the Oviedo Filarmonía Orchestra and the Choir 1685 of the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory of Ravenna, under the acclaimed director Andrea de Rosa and conducted by the talented baton of Francesco Lanzillotta (9th & 11th April).
ARAB MUSIC: HERITAGE, LEGENDS, AND NEW VOICES
This year’s Arab music programme is a tribute to both tradition and evolution. The season begins with a celebration of Omani Women’s Day featuring performances by Diana Haddad, the Ayoub Sisters, and the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra Ladies’ Ensemble (17th October), followed by Diana Haddad’s solo concert the next evening (18th October).
In a tribute to national talent, Omani Night showcases the music of Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi in an evening that reflects the depth of the Sultanate’s musical legacy (12th December).
Major names in Gulf music also take the stage, as Rabeh Saqer performs under the stars in an open-air concert (13th November).
Later in the spring, Khalid El Sheikh and Ahmed El Jumairy come together for A Night with the Masters of Gulf Music, a unique collaboration that captures the poetic essence of the Khaleej (23rd April).
The season’s Arab music offering concludes with a performance by Abeer Nehme, whose remarkable range and deep expressiveness promise an unforgettable experience (14th & 15th May).
MOMENTS OF REFLECTION AND SPIRITUAL RESONANCE
During Ramadan, ROHM offers a serene programme of Evenings of Sufi and Inshaad, bringing sacred poetry and spiritual music from across the Arab world to the fore. These contemplative evenings offer moments of calm and connection (26th February, 5th & 9th March).
ORCHESTRAL EXCELLENCE AND CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUES
This season also highlights the power of musical dialogue between traditions and geographies. A striking example comes early, when the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Domonkos Héja joins forces with the Oman Traditional Music Ensemble to explore intersections between Hungarian and Arab music (4th October).
Making its ROHM debut, the Ossipov National Academic Folk Instrument Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Andropov brings the sounds of Russian folklore to life in a concert full of colour and energy (17th November).
A dazzling New Year’s Eve gala sees the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Sergey Smbatyan, perform alongside pianist Behzod Abduraimov and violinist Elli Choi in an evening of technical brilliance and artistic elegance (31st December).
In Beethoven/Liszt’s Ninth Symphony, pianists Hélène Mercier and Louis Lortie present the rarely performed two-piano arrangement, accompanied by the Chorus of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, offering a fresh and intimate perspective on a towering classic (30th January).
Adding cinematic wonder to the mix, Disney’s The Lion King Live in Concert will be screened with orchestral accompaniment by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, an immersive journey into the savannah and a feast for the senses (13th & 14th February).
Additional orchestral highlights include Castanets’ Duel, a playful and virtuosic showcase by Raul Amaya and Gabriela Castillo with The Oviedo Filarmonía (10th April) and a majestic Pipe Organ Concert with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra accompanied for the first time by ROHM’s Children’s Choir (30th April).
BALLET, FLAMENCO, AND THE ART OF MOVEMENT
Dance returns to the ROHM stage in full splendour. The ‘Astana Opera’ Ballet Company and Orchestra presents Charles Nuitter and Léo Delibes’ Coppélia with Roland Petit’s elegant and humorous choreography; an enduring classic filled with charm and artistry (4th & 5th December). In May, The Ballet Nacional de España brings Estampas Flamencas, a passionate tribute to flamenco’s rhythmic complexity and emotional depth (7th & 8th May).
JAZZ, FOLK, AND GLOBAL SOUNDS
The Janoska Ensemble, a family of four incredible artists, perform their unique arrangements of classical music alongside the Vienna Chamber Orchestra over two nights on the 30th and 31st October.
From smoky jazz to open-air folk festivals, the season brings together diverse musical worlds. Jazz aficionados can enjoy performances by rising star Emmaline with the participation of Anthony Strong, who together deliver a sophisticated mix of standards, soul, and swing (27th & 28th November).
The ever-popular Military Music Festival remains a stalwart date in the calendar of the season, this year presenting visiting bands alongside Omani military and police bands in what will certainly be an outstanding display of music, marching and brilliant costumes (6th, 7th & 8th November). Following this, the Folk Music Festival returns with artists from Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Hungary sharing the stage with Omani musicians in a vibrant celebration of cultural rhythm and identity (8th & 9th January).
FAMILY MAGIC AND THEATRE FOR ALL AGES
“Lumen Créations” brings Symphony of Lights to the stage, to join a staggering line up of family friendly shows, a dazzling combination of acrobatics and a dramatic light show that will put the opera house in the spotlight in the holiday season (18th & 19th December).
Delighting younger audiences and the young at heart, ROHM presents a series of enchanting family productions. Cinderella on Ice dazzles with graceful choreography, glittering costumes, and storytelling on skates (1st, 2nd & 3rd January).
February brings The Underwater Bubble Show, a fantastic production full of light, illusion, and joyful spectacle (6th & 7th February).
A SEASON BEYOND THE STAGE
Beyond its rich performance calendar, the 2025–2026 season reaffirms ROHM’s role as a centre for learning, accessibility, and cultural dialogue. From artist-led masterclasses to family-friendly “Open House” days, and from educational outreach programmes to performances with sign language integration, the season is designed to engage and include. Initiatives like school performances and the “Open Doors” programme ensure that music and culture remain accessible to all.
This season also features a special exhibition: Rhythm of Life - Richness and Diversity in Omani Arts, a music exhibition presented at the Royal Opera House of Musical Arts. Through rare instruments, immersive displays, and musical stories from across the Sultanate, the exhibition celebrates Oman’s vibrant heritage and the sounds that connect its people.
Season 2025–2026 is more than a season, it’s a celebration of connection: between people, between cultures, and between stories told through music.
Tickets available from September 1st at 11:00 am. Early bird ticket sales until September 6th receive a 15% discount across all shows using the promocode EARLY15, in addition to other special rates for multiple-show bookings, of 3 shows and above.
Visit www.rohmuscat.org.om for full details.
