Oscar winner in awe of His Majesty
Gianni Quaranta won an Oscar in Art Direction for the film ‘A Room with a View’
MADIHA ASIF madiha@timesofoman.com
MUSCAT: An Oscar winning art director has praised His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for bringing the Royal Opera House to Muscat and connecting everyone from across the world through it.
Speaking to Times of Oman during rehearsals before the new season kicks in on Wednesday, September 11, Gianni Quaranta said that he always talks about Oman when he is with his friends.
The director, who has bagged several awards during his lifetime including an Oscar in Art Direction for the film ‘ A Room with a View’ said: “When I am back home, something that I really love to share with my friends is how happy I am that His Majesty the Sultan, being a lover of opera himself, had this amazing idea of opening the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM). It is not just a theatre but also a place where people come together, and this is what music does all over the world: it brings everyone and any culture together. So, I would like to thank him as this is something really wonderful”.
Returning to Oman after a gap of eight years, Quaranta is the director, set and costume designer for one of the most frequently performed operas in the classical canon, Carmen, which came to the ROHM as a specially commissioned production for the landmark Inaugural Season in 2011.
“I am really happy to be back here in this beautiful country and this wonderful theatre for the second time. I am really excited to present again this wonderful opera to the public. I am also thrilled to be working with the same production but with a completely different cast – new singers, new choreographers, new dancers.
“I am really happy to have them [the cast] here in Oman and I hope the public will enjoy it again as they did in 2011. And for those of you who are new to the show, I really hope you will have a beautiful time with us,” Quaranta said.
Speaking about how he feels about reconnecting with the lead performer – José Cura, who will appear as Don José - Quaranta said that no one better than him could have done it.
“I am glad to be working with Cura again. I remember 25 years ago when he won a singing competition at the festival in Argentina, we got an opportunity to work together back then. It is absolutely wonderful to see him again as a grown man as he was a very young boy the last time I saw him.
“I am really excited about the fact that Cura will be a leading character in Carmen as I really wanted to represent the character of José in a deeper way, and no one better than him could have done it,” Quaranta said.
Carmen will be presented on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, September 11, 12 and 14 at 7:00 pm. specially designed meal for children.
The special deliveries brought smiles and educational fun to the young people who were happy to engage and take pictures with the cabin crew team.
Members of the Junior Sindbad programme will receive their own Oman Air passport, which will be stamped and signed by the captain on every flight they take. Once they have collected 10 stamps and signatures, they will receive a free flight to any destination within the airline’s network.