Royal Opera House Muscat launches second season

I am a bit late in posting this, but had serious internet woes at home the past couple of weeks! As you have probably seen on some of the other blogs, the Royal Opera House Muscat announced its second season earlier this week, which will run from January to April, 2012, and the line-up is looking nice and varied. The ticket prices have also been revised for all shows and now start from RO5 per person, so for the better, or so it seems for the time being as the prices of tickets for each individual area is yet to be announced. There is also a new inclusion of two children’s performances, which will start from RO3.

Another good thing is the show times have been moved forward so hopefully it will be easier to grab a bite to eat post-show instead of everyone leaving the opera at midnight and being faced with no other choice than drive through at McDonalds! There are also a number of packages and discount deals available for those purchasing a number of tickets to different shows.

 Here is the programme

Titans of the Russian Repertoire - January 16, 7.30pm

The Vienna Philharmonic pays tribute to a number of Russian composers

 

 

Omar Sarmini – January 20, 7.30pm

Omar Sarmini and a traditional Arabic ensemble present classical tarab

 

 

Welcome the Dragon: A Chinese New Year’s Celebration – January 23, 7.30pm

The Chinese Traditional Orchestra of Inner Mongolia makes its Oman debut

 

 

 Ammar el Sherei – January 25, 7.30pm

Ammar el Sherei returns to Oman with Macedonian Philharmoic Orchestra and Salim al Maqrashi

 

 

Carnival of the Animals – January 28, 6pm (Children’s show)

The Moscow City Symphony Russian Philharmonic tells the story of Carnival of the Animals, accompanied by Abdul Rahman Abou Zahra

 

 

Tsar Saltan – January 29, 6pm (Children's show)

The Moscow City Symphony Russian Philharmonic tells the story of Tsar Saltan, accompanied by Abdul Rahman Abou Zahra

 

 

Jose Carreras – February 1, 7.30pm

The Moscow City Symphony Russian Philharmonic will accompany Jose Carreras, the famous tenor for this one night only show

 

 

The Great Arabic Songbook: From Umm Kulthum to Muhammed Abdo – February 7, 7.30pm

The Multi-Ethnic Star Orchestra plays Arabic classics such as songs by Umm Kulthum, Muhammad Abdal Wahhab, Faris el Atrache, Muhammed Abdo and Sayyid Darwish

 

 

South African Ballet Theatre – February 10-11, 7.30pm

The group will perform a line-up of much loved ballets including classical and modern pieces

 

 

Music of Omar Khairat – February 15-16, 7.30pm

The Omar Khairat Ensemble and Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra play music from Egyptian cinema

 

 

Beyond Tunis: A Mediterranean Journey – February 20, 7.30pm

Sania M’barek performs the sound of Runisia to Libya and beyond

 

 

Three Centuries, Three Continents, Three Masters – February 23, 7.30pm

The Prague Symphony Orchestra joins Abdel Rahman el Bacha and Ahmed el Saedi in performing the works of Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov and Passacaglia for Orchestra

 

 

Il Travatore – March 1 and March 3, 7pm

The Ravenna Festival performs Verdi’s Il Travatore

 

 

Exhilarating Rhythm: Wadaiko and Omani Drumming – March 6, 7.30pm

Fusing the styles of Japan and Oman, this performance features Japanese Wakaiko and traditional Omani musicians

 

 

Tango Metropolis – March 8-9, 7.30pm

Created by Daniel Binelli, Pilar Alvarez and Claudio Hoffmann, this performance tells the story of the Argentinean tango

 

 

Praxa – March 15-16, 7.30pm

Produced by the Astana Philharmonic Orchestra from the Cairo Opera House, this musical comedy is an original Arabic musical loosely based on Aristophanes’ Lysistrata

 

 

Abduction from the Seraglio – March 23 and March 25, 7pm

The Hungarian National opera presents Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio

 

 

Icons: A Celebration of Arabic Jazz – March 28-30, 7.30pm

On March 28, Anouar Brahem will perform. On March 29, Fathy Salama will perform and on March 30, Rabih Abou-Khalil will perform.

There are also a number of package deals available that when booked together result in a 15 per cent discount. Students will receive 15 per cent discount as will children aged between 6 and 17 years of age. There is also a group discount for purchases of between ten and 24 tickets for the same show and they are 15 per cent.

Tickets for group and packages go on sale on January 1, while single ticket sales start on January 4.

So what are you all looking forward to?

OB

Sweet event in Qurm

Just in case any of those lovely ladies that make fabulous cakes in Muscat are reading this, I would like to put it out there that I LOVE cake. Carrot cake, coffee cake, brownies, cookies, bread pudding… you name it. Anything cakey, sweet and delicious doesn’t last very long in my house and while I do enjoy baking, I have to admit to getting very lazy in recent months and just don’t have the energy to do it myself.

Luckily for lazy types like me who can’t even be bothered to drive around the different bakeries looking for treats, for one day only (January  12, 2012) the Al Qurm Complex (aka CCC) will be hosting a bake sale. The sale is open to anyone who enjoys baking and thinks they are any good at it. It costs RO30 per table, but I guess you can sell as much or as little on that as you like.

The event is scheduled to run from 10am to 9pm and according to the events Facebook page will feature alongside the cakes for sale, a Create & Sell kids corner that is free for 8-15 year olds to participate in where they can embrace their creative side. There will also be face painting, henna and colouring available.

I assume registration is still open so if you fancy making a bit of cash from your cupcakes or… some dough from your dough (awful cake based pun!) then sign up. Let me know if you are taking part and I promise to come round and do some sampling!

For more details either visit the event Facebook page or call 24563672.

In other news I am in the process of writing a post about being a female expat who works in Oman so let me know if you have any questions you want answering. I get a lot of emails from people asking about correct business and social attire as well as things such as “Can you shake an Arab woman’s hand?” so will be sure to answer those.

OB