Monday 06 / October / 2025
The Royal Opera House Muscat is proud to celebrate the triumphant world premiere of Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, a landmark grand-opéra production that captivated audiences with its visionary artistry, deeply rooted cultural spirit, and bold storytelling.
Presented to full houses on 3 and 5 October, the performances marked an historic achievement for Arabic-language opera. Audiences were transported by the power of Maestro Hisham Gabr’s compelling score, at once epic and intimate, beginning with the haunting sound of bagpipes echoing eerily through the darkened auditorium, and rising to stirring crescendos that carried Sindbad across oceans. Gabr’s musical tapestry was beautifully rendered by the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and brought to life by an all-Arabic cast and traditional Omani performers, in a fusion that felt both seamless and momentous.
Visually, the opera dazzled with stunning sets and exquisite lighting design.
Projections gave brilliant mobility to the sea, morphing it from serenity to storm, while costume and set elements reflected the diversity and elegance of Oman’s regions. A highlight for many was the live presence of an oud player on stage, a symbol of continuity between past and present. And in an unprecedented moment, the audience collectively inhaled the heady, enchanting scent of Sindbad, a bespoke perfume created in partnership with Amouage, as it drifted gently through the auditorium, heightening the immersive experience.
“This is a night we will long remember,” said Umberto Fanni, Director General and Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House Muscat. “This is a landmark production by the Royal Opera House Muscat,a grand opera entirely in Arabic. It showcases Royal Opera House Muscat’s strength in delivering complex, international productions while embedding an Omani perspective into a timeless legend, deepening its cultural impact.”
Directed by Csaba Káel and produced in collaboration with MÜPA Budapest, Sindbad: The Omani Sailor will next appear on the international stage in Hungary in April 2026, furthering its journey as a beacon of Arab creativity and operatic innovation.
