La Bohème Special Project at ROHM: Omani Student Wins Essay Competition
Published: 03:10 PM,Oct 03,2024 | EDITED : 07:10 PM,Oct 03,2024
As part of its educational program, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) continues to host various projects and activities for individuals of all ages, including children, students, and adults. Known for its distinguished seasonal programming, ROHM provides free educational initiatives aimed at deepening the audience's understanding of the performing arts. These interactive programs offer participants the opportunity to explore the season’s artistic masterpieces in greater detail.
The 2023/2024 season they concluded with a stellar production of La Bohème, composed by Giacomo Puccini. Directed by Jean-Louis Grinda, Director of the Monte Carlo Opera, and conducted by Leonardo Sini, the production featured the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana alongside the Symphonic Choir of Parma and Emilia Romagna. This emotionally powerful opera was a resounding success in Oman, with near-sell-out performances across all three showings.
To further engage its audience and provide a deeper exploration of this timeless love story, ROHM collaborated with Muscat University’s Theatre Club to offer students exclusive access to a series of activities centred around La Bohème. These activities, which ran from April 23, 2024, began with a screening of La Bohème directed by Mario Martone and included a variety of immersive workshops. Students were granted unique opportunities, such as dining with the opera’s characters during the Lunch Music concert at the Opera Galleria and attending thought-provoking workshops with ROHM’s educational team. The experience allowed them to explore the opera’s most compelling scenes through debates and discussions.
The special project culminated in the students attending one of La Bohème's live performances in May 2024. As a final challenge, ROHM invited the students to participate in an essay competition, offering two topics for exploration:
La Bohème by G. Puccini: A Story of Love or Friendship?
Your Bohème: How Would You Rewrite the Story, and How Could It Be Adapted Today?
Adnan Mahfoodh Al-Hattali, leader of the Muscat University Theatre Club and a recent graduate, won the competition with his innovative reimagining of La Bohème in a modern, urban setting, where the characters take on contemporary roles such as graphic designers and freelancers. In an interview with Oman Observer, Adnan reflected on his involvement in the project and the inspiration behind his essay.
When asked about his experience with the project, Adnan shared, “Royal Opera House Muscat reached out to us, and the Theatre Club was excited to participate. We had heard fantastic feedback from past participants, and the workshops and events were insightful and enriching. For many of us, it was a unique opportunity to engage with a project of such high quality.”
Regarding his connection to Puccini’s work, Adnan remarked, “Although I had attended operas before, I wasn’t familiar with La Bohème. This project significantly deepened my understanding of the opera, especially after the discussions surrounding Mimì's death, which were particularly moving.”
Adnan’s modern reinterpretation of the story resonated with many, as he envisioned Rodolfo as a content creator and Marcello as a street artist. “The themes of La Bohème—love, friendship, jealousy, sacrifice—are timeless,” he said. “In adapting the story, I wanted to show that these emotions and experiences transcend eras. As I wrote in my essay, ‘A modern adaptation would not only preserve the original spirit of the opera but also highlight contemporary social and economic issues, making it relevant to today’s audience.’”
Reflecting on the project’s impact, Adnan noted, “The workshops and activities allowed me to fully engage with the story and develop my own interpretation. Beyond the opera itself, this experience taught me essential life skills like confidence, teamwork, and public speaking.”
Adnan’s essay was selected by a panel of senior managers at ROHM for its creativity and fresh perspective. As a reward, he received tickets to attend upcoming performances in the 2024/25 season.
With the new season underway, ROHM continues to offer a rich selection of educational activities, including new initiatives such as “Let’s Read,” a monthly reading group for children, and “Emerging Talents,” which showcases the winners of international music competitions. Popular programs like Lunch Music and Opera Talks will also return, with the first Lunch Music event focusing on Un Ballo in Maschera on September 28th at the Opera Galleria, followed by an Opera Talk on October 2nd in the Music Library. In an effort to enhance inclusivity, ROHM's “Open Doors” initiative will include Omani Sign Language interpretation and simultaneous translation in Arabic and English for the Opera Talks.
The 2023/2024 season they concluded with a stellar production of La Bohème, composed by Giacomo Puccini. Directed by Jean-Louis Grinda, Director of the Monte Carlo Opera, and conducted by Leonardo Sini, the production featured the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana alongside the Symphonic Choir of Parma and Emilia Romagna. This emotionally powerful opera was a resounding success in Oman, with near-sell-out performances across all three showings.
To further engage its audience and provide a deeper exploration of this timeless love story, ROHM collaborated with Muscat University’s Theatre Club to offer students exclusive access to a series of activities centred around La Bohème. These activities, which ran from April 23, 2024, began with a screening of La Bohème directed by Mario Martone and included a variety of immersive workshops. Students were granted unique opportunities, such as dining with the opera’s characters during the Lunch Music concert at the Opera Galleria and attending thought-provoking workshops with ROHM’s educational team. The experience allowed them to explore the opera’s most compelling scenes through debates and discussions.
The special project culminated in the students attending one of La Bohème's live performances in May 2024. As a final challenge, ROHM invited the students to participate in an essay competition, offering two topics for exploration:
La Bohème by G. Puccini: A Story of Love or Friendship?
Your Bohème: How Would You Rewrite the Story, and How Could It Be Adapted Today?
Adnan Mahfoodh Al-Hattali, leader of the Muscat University Theatre Club and a recent graduate, won the competition with his innovative reimagining of La Bohème in a modern, urban setting, where the characters take on contemporary roles such as graphic designers and freelancers. In an interview with Oman Observer, Adnan reflected on his involvement in the project and the inspiration behind his essay.
When asked about his experience with the project, Adnan shared, “Royal Opera House Muscat reached out to us, and the Theatre Club was excited to participate. We had heard fantastic feedback from past participants, and the workshops and events were insightful and enriching. For many of us, it was a unique opportunity to engage with a project of such high quality.”
Regarding his connection to Puccini’s work, Adnan remarked, “Although I had attended operas before, I wasn’t familiar with La Bohème. This project significantly deepened my understanding of the opera, especially after the discussions surrounding Mimì's death, which were particularly moving.”
Adnan’s modern reinterpretation of the story resonated with many, as he envisioned Rodolfo as a content creator and Marcello as a street artist. “The themes of La Bohème—love, friendship, jealousy, sacrifice—are timeless,” he said. “In adapting the story, I wanted to show that these emotions and experiences transcend eras. As I wrote in my essay, ‘A modern adaptation would not only preserve the original spirit of the opera but also highlight contemporary social and economic issues, making it relevant to today’s audience.’”
Reflecting on the project’s impact, Adnan noted, “The workshops and activities allowed me to fully engage with the story and develop my own interpretation. Beyond the opera itself, this experience taught me essential life skills like confidence, teamwork, and public speaking.”
Adnan’s essay was selected by a panel of senior managers at ROHM for its creativity and fresh perspective. As a reward, he received tickets to attend upcoming performances in the 2024/25 season.
With the new season underway, ROHM continues to offer a rich selection of educational activities, including new initiatives such as “Let’s Read,” a monthly reading group for children, and “Emerging Talents,” which showcases the winners of international music competitions. Popular programs like Lunch Music and Opera Talks will also return, with the first Lunch Music event focusing on Un Ballo in Maschera on September 28th at the Opera Galleria, followed by an Opera Talk on October 2nd in the Music Library. In an effort to enhance inclusivity, ROHM's “Open Doors” initiative will include Omani Sign Language interpretation and simultaneous translation in Arabic and English for the Opera Talks.