Sultanate of Oman opens debuts opera house

In just a few shorts weeks, the Sultanate of Oman – on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula – will make history as it open the doors of its first-ever opera house, reports Routard.com.

Known to attract up-market tourists to its castles, deserts and coastal terrains, Oman intends for the new Royal Opera House to represent its status as a modern nation. Located in the capital city of Muscat – the heart of the Sultanate’s economic and political center – the facility was built in collaboration with international architects, designers and builders to incorporate Arab and Islamic elements.

The rapidly-developing Arab state – bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest – was recently listed as the most-improved nation over the last 40 years by the United Nations Development Programme in November 2010.

The Royal Opera House will open October 14 with its performance of composer Giacomo Puccini’s final masterpiece, Turandot. An itinerary featuring various operatic productions and ballets will be presented in the weeks and months to follow.