Tuesday 28 / January / 2025
Muscat: While Royal Opera House Muscat is known for its exceptional programme of world- class performances including classical music, Arabic music, opera, and ballet, it also strives to enrich lives through diverse artistic, cultural and educational programmes.
With Open Doors, the exceptional community outreach project that began this season, ROHM has created a bridge that aims to strengthen inclusivity and engagement in cultural and artistic activities outside the doors of the opera house.
Open Doors closed 2024 with a profound impact, reaching into the heart of two special communities for whom the experience was extraordinary.
Following on from Desert Bridges, a collaborative concert between Swiss and Omani musicians, which was performed in a Welfare Home in Al Rustaq in December, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana performed a concert at the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disability.
Umberto Fanni, Director General of Royal Opera House Muscat stressed the importance of such initiatives saying, “Alongside the founding vision of the opera house to provide an enriching season of music at the opera house and to create lasting cultural partnerships around the world, we have always placed initiatives which connect with the community at the centre of the season’s activities and programme.
Bringing performances to our communities, no matter what their situation is, is a fundamental tenet of all cultural institutions. By throwing the doors open in this way, we can endeavour to make a real difference to people’s lives.
In 2024, we found new outlets for our Open Doors initiative, in what we hope to be a true collaboration between institutions that demonstrates the infinite value of art and culture to all”.
Sabah Al Bahlani, CEO of Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disability, was happy to express the positive impact this initiative. “We are truly grateful to Royal Opera House Muscat for the Open Doors initiative, which brought the magic of music and creativity to our children.
The performance and workshop by the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra were not only inspiring but also provided a unique opportunity for the children to connect with art in a meaningful way.
Experiences like these play a significant role in fostering joy, confidence, and inclusion for children with disabilities, and we look forward to future collaborations that continue to create lasting memories.”
Open Doors is now an integral part of ROHM’s education and community programmes, ensuring greater access to the opera house’s performances to a wider audience.
