The Al Bustan Palace Ritz Carlton Hotel hosted its annual complimentary Festive Concert last week to welcome in 2022. The 250 people who attended were in for a rare musical treat after two long years of COVID restrictions. The audience was masked and the seating was well spaced for the first live classical concert in nearly two years. The venue was the Majan Ballroom not the Oman Auditorium and the star of the evening was the organ, installed by the London firm Mander in 1985 by the late HM Sultan Qaboos for the GCC conference for which the hotel was originally constructed.
This organ is similar to the one at Magdalen College, Oxford and although small packs a punch when pulling out all the stops! The first organ arrived in Oman in 1975 and is now residing in Ghala Church and a further 9 organs in Oman followed, including the magnificent German-built Orgelbau Klais pipe organ at the Royal Opera House Muscat which graces the stage of the auditorium and runs on railway tracks so that it can be easily moved. His Late Majesty Sultan Qaboos was passionate about music and a talented organist himself.
The concert began with Corelli's Christmas Concerto and was followed by two chorales written by J S Bach, "Der Jahr alt ist vergangen", a reflective piece written for New Year's Eve and "In dir ist Freude" a jolly composition for New Year's Day. The first half concluded with Handel's Concerto in F for Organ & Strings. A short interval was followed by Vivaldi's Concerto in D minor for Organ and Strings.
The piece de resistance was Bach'sToccata and Fugue in D minor BVW 565, The word “toccata” comes from the Italian toccare (to touch). This type of keyboard piece was designed to highlight the performer's technical ability—literally, how well the player could “touch” the keys. The toccata usually has a free form that sounds improvisational. This demanding piece was rendered with confidence and flare - a superb treat for the audience!
The organ is a highly complex musical instrument and with regular maintenance and playing will last for several centuries. Until recently, this was the task of Ian Hockley, lately Oman's Royal Organist who was centre stage last night cementing his growing international reputation, supported by a very talented string ensemble led by Luca Blasio who has been soloist and tutor to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) since 2009.
Thanks also to Muscat Strings who upheld Oman's outstanding musical tradition. Welcome also to Riley Court-Wood, who recently came to Oman as conductor of the Sultanate's second orchestra, the Muscat Philharmonic.
The evening performance concluded with "Spring" from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi. Luca gave the audience a brilliant solo, played with joy. The entire piece was performed at the Bustan for the first time in Oman by ROSO with Luca Blasio in the lead under the baton of Paolo Olmi. Many of the audience remembered this landmark concert in 2013.
Organisers of the event thanked the enthusiasm of Nabil al Zadjali, the General Manager of the hotel, for making the event possible. It is hoped that the Bustan Palace may hopefully stage a second concert later in the year - watch this space!
Photos by Captain Ralph Wood
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