In accordance with its mission, Royal Opera House Muscat endeavours to enrich the global cultural landscape through creative collaboration and fruitful exchange with other leading cultural institutions. To further this aim, HH Sayyid Dr Kamil Fahad Al Said, Secretary General in the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers and Member of the Board of Directors of Royal Opera House Muscat, recently visited Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy.
In the company of HH Sayyid Nazar Al Julanda Al Said, Ambassador of Oman to Italy, HH Sayyid Dr Kamil Fahad Al Said met in Venice with Fortunato Ortombina, General Manager and Artistic Director of La Fenice to enhance collaborative ties and explore possibilities for developing specific projects. During the meeting, HH Sayyid Dr Kamil Al Said set out the current objectives of Royal Opera House Muscat in the context of the institution’s overall vision. Mr Ortombina took special interest in Royal Opera House Muscat’s innovative marketing initiatives, especially the creation of new scents by the renowned perfumer Roja Dove that are redolent of important operas in the performance history of Royal Opera House Muscat, such as Lakmé and Turandot.
New audience development strategies especially designed to engage youth including targeted community and educational outreach programs were of mutual interest for collaboration. The two opera houses also shared innovative best practices in the technical domain such as cutting-edge stage technologies. Building on the previous Teatro La Fenice tour in Oman of L’Elisir d’Amore in 2016, the discussion included a focus on future possibilities such as Royal Opera House Muscat hosting another opera title or an orchestra and chorus concert from Teatro La Fenice in the 2025-26 season.
The visit featured a tour of La Fenice, about which His Highness HH Sayyid Dr Kamil Al Said remarked, “Expressing the grandeur of the palatial architecture of Venice, La Fenice is among the world’s most famous and magnificent opera houses. Dating from 1792, a sense of timeless beauty and splendour pervades the interior with its intricately artistry and gilded adornment. This wonderful tour set the stage for collaborative discussion and exciting plans for the future. On behalf of Royal Opera House Muscat, I would like to express my grateful thanks for this wonderful opportunity to further ties between our two opera houses.”
Mr Fortunato Ortombina expressed similar sentiments: “Royal Opera House Muscat has firmly established its status as a premier venue internationally. We take immense pride in the success achieved with our collaborative productions in the past. It is truly gratifying to access insights from His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil Al Said regarding the innovative strategies and initiatives of Royal Opera House Muscat in recent years. We hope that the collaboration between our two institutions continues in the years to come”.
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