A Night at the Opera

Not quite the same as A Night at the Museum, but we had a girls' night out at the opera for the season's opening performance and saw "The Barber of Seville." The production was very good, and we had a good time. The Royal Opera House Muscat is a grand and luxuriant edifice.

To prepare for our visit to the opera, Wanda and I took a short tour a few mornings before the performance. The exterior of the building is all marble, and in the early morning humidity and sun, can be quite intimidating with glare and heat--but the walkways, arches, corbels, and doors are worth the trek!

The marble inside in the foyer is Carrara, the wood is from Burma and hand-carved by Omani craftsman on-site. The marble in the ante-room where they serve refreshments is Omani marble, mined just a few miles away.

Stairway post--marble

Carved ceiling

Marble base of pillar is cut as an Omani fort

Inlaid wood table in the foyer

Our guide for the daily tour

A unique feature of the Royal Opera House is this sound-
proofed room between the entrance hall and the theatre.
It mutes any sound so that the silence inside the theatre is
not interrupted if anyone leaves or enters during a
performance.

A few of us met for dinner beforehand at the attached Opera House Galleria. Here we are posing together during the intermission.

Formally and traditionally dressed ushers
posted at each entrance.

Another usher on the right, fellow attendees

Hope you enjoyed the "Night at the Opera!"