In 2011, the Royal Opera House Muscat made history as the first such institution to be established in the Middle Eastern region. Oman's Royal Opera House quickly became known as a world-class venue attracting the finest talent from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In 2013, the Royal Opera House Muscat celebrated the centenaries of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. And now the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) joins leading opera houses around the world in paying special tribute to one of opera's greatest singers, the legendary Luciano Pavarotti, marking a decade since his death in 2007.
The Royal Opera House Muscat's homage to Luciano Pavarotti will take place on Thursday the 14th of December 2017, commencing in the Grand Hall of the Royal Opera House at 11:00 am with the formal inauguration of an exclusive and historic exhibition of Pavarotti memorabilia. The Chief Guest will be His Highness Sayyid Kamil Fahad Al-Said, Board Member of the Royal Opera House Muscat, who will give the opening address.
In an interview, His Highness Sayyid Kamil commented on the significance of this occasion: "The exhibition features treasured memorabilia from a remarkable career that helped change the way the world views opera. With the legendary power of his voice, the grandeur of his personality and his wonderful, down-to-earth humanity, Luciano Pavarotti brought the fine art of opera to a much broader spectrum of listeners and opened millions of hearts and minds around the world to the sheer joy, the beauty and truth of opera with its magnificent tragedies and clever comedies".
This landmark occasion will also be graced by the participation of Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti who established the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation. Madam Mantovani Pavarotti will speak at the opening of the Exhibition and will also be the featured guest for ROHM's Coffee & Dates session on Wednesday, the 13th of December at 7:00 pm.
On display from the formal Opening on the 14th of December until the 6th of January 2018, the treasures in ROHM's Pavarotti Exhibition include written tributes from notable admirers such as Diana, Princess of Wales and Nelson Mandela, as well as important documents that Pavarotti himself collected, such as letters written by two of his favourite composers - Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. Along with costumes from some of Pavarotti's iconic roles, original scores from famous operas, awards, gold records and signature personal possessions, the Exhibition includes something that may surprise many - a painting by Pavarotti.
The celebration on Thursday the 14th of December culminates in a fabulous Gala Concert at 7:00 pm, featuring four of the best opera voices of today.The renowned Italian singer, Fiorenza Cedolins who won the 1996 Luciano Pavarotti Vocal Competition and later sang with Pavarotti in Puccini 's Tosca, plays a leading role in the concert. Also starring is Sumi Jo, a Grammy Award-winning lyric coloratura soprano from South Korea, known for her interpretations of the bel canto repertoire, as well as for her outstanding musicianship.
The lead tenors are two superb Italian opera stars, Francesco Meli and Marcello Giordani, both of whom are virtuosic performers and very fine interpreters of bel canto. These well-chosen singers have a natural and meaningful link with Pavarotti, having studied and/or performed on stage with him. Their treasured memories and deeply rooted esteem make for truly inspired performances that evoke the enduring spirit of Pavarotti.
In his later years, Luciano Pavarotti devoted considerable time to supporting talented young singers. He loved giving lessons, and hoped that sharing his experience with students would help perpetuate his great passion for opera. Accordingly, four young singers from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation will share the spotlight at ROHM's Gala Concert – soprano, Claudia Sasso; tenor, Ivan Ayon Rivas; mezzosoprano, Ana Victória Pitts; and baritone Daniele Terenzi. These amazing young singers will perform on Saturday, the 16th of December in ROHM's Lunch Music series at the Opera Galleria at 12.30 pm.
This will not be the first time that young singers from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation have performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat. His Highness Sayyid Kamil Fahad Al-Said recalls: "The Royal Opera House Muscat engaged several talented young singers from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation in March of 2016 to perform in the immensely successful Magic Flute for Children or Defeating the Monsters. We are delighted to feature a new set of young Pavarotti singers, not only in our Gala Concert but also in a special recital at the Opera Galleria where the general public can enjoy their fabulous voices and dazzling exuberance."
While celebrating Luciano Pavarotti the tenor, we rediscover Pavarotti the man – big and noble as he was during his immense career. A thrilling and varied programme will unfold on stage at the Royal Opera House Muscat against a backdrop of exclusive Pavarotti photographs and videos, while some of the best-loved music in the history of opera is played with arias from Verdi (Un Ballo Maschera; La Traviata; Rigoletto); Puccini (Madama Butterfly; Tosca); Leoncavallo (Pagliacci; Mattinata); Donizetti (Lucia di Lamermoor); Ponchielli (La Gioconda) and other master composers. The music is brought to life under the baton of renowned conductor Fabrizio Maria Carminati as he directs one of Italy's finest orchestras, the Filarmonica del Festival Pianistico Internazionale di Brescia e Bergamo.
ROHM's Pavarotti Exhibition is open to the general public from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday to Thursday, from December 14th 2017 to January 6th 2018. Entrance to the Exhibition is free, as is admission to both the interactive ROHM Coffee & Dates session with Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti on Wednesday the 13th of December at 7:00 pm and the Lunch Music concert with young singers from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation on Saturday the 16th of December at 12:30 pm.
Tickets for ROHM's Gala Concert, Homage to Luciano Pavarotti on Thursday December 14th 2017 at 7:00 pm .