ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
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A majestic testament to the late Sultan Qaboos's unconditional love of great music, the Royal Opera House, some 142 years after the opening of the Cairo Opera House, saw its Arab premiere at the end of 2011, with Franco Zeffirelli's Veronese Turandot conducted by Placido Domingo. With a capacity of around 1,100, the main auditorium features magnificent red seats. Spectators can follow the filmed version of the performance on the screen inserted in the backrest in front of them, as well as the text of the libretto translated into the language of their choice. At intermission, the foyer features a collection of rare antiques, including Quimper Porquier-Beau earthenware, a lyre by Mirecourt luthier Jean-Baptiste Thouvenel and a bicentenary zither by Jean Hénocq. As music is a link between generations, the Omanis have chosen to equip the main hall with a 4,542-pipe polytimbral organ by Klais, the historic organ builder based in Bonn. Tickets can be purchased at reception or on the website. Catch-up sessions are available from Saturday to Thursday, from 8.20 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with a short guided tour of the opera house, which unfortunately does not include a backstage tour, but does offer a good overview of the auditorium.
For a small additional fee, this tour can be combined with that of the wonderful House of Musical Arts.
To extend the experience, stroll through the corridors of theOpera Galleria, a shopping mall of rare luxury and elegance.
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