The Met to host operas in Riyadh for five years
The deal was just announced
Operas in Saudi Arabia are set to get a massive upgrade. The Saudi Music Commission, together with the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera (Met), just inked a deal, meaning that the Met Opera will host operas in Riyadh.
The deal aims to establish the Met Opera as the winter resident company once the Royal Diriyah Opera House is open.
The country has long hosted glorious events, including its very first opera, a world-class opera, Carmen, and under the new memorandum of understanding (MoU), the Met Opera will host operas in Riyadh.
The specifics
Under the collaboration, the Met will travel to Riyadh each winter for five years to stage full operas and concerts over three-week periods, according to Asharq Alawsat.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) also includes the Met’s commitment to train promising Saudi talent, including opera singers and theatre artisans, to nurture their skills, foster creative excellence, and support career development in the operatic arts. The collaboration will also see the launch of a brand-new production of a global opera.
More about the Royal Diriyah Opera House
The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be built near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At Turaif in Diriyah. Designed by world-renowned architectural firm Snøhetta with local expertise from Riyadh-based Syn Architects, it’s a lesson in show-stopping design, with its Nadji-influenced architectural elements making it a befitting icon within the Diriyah development. The mudbrick-inspired construction method will be the foundation for the Royal Diriyah Opera House design, ensuring the new cultural icon fits into its traditional surroundings. Intricate design details will add the level of grandeur you’d expect from a capital city’s opera house.
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