Hiba charms Royal Opera House

Over 100 Ukrainian orchestra musicians gathered around composer and soprano Hiba al-Kawas to astound the audience at the Royal Opera House, Muscat. Al-Kawas united top musical, artistic and technical talentsfrom around the world for the performance on the coast of Oman. The star performed in a beautiful blue dress by Zuhair Murad. She took the audience’s breath away with her classically-trained voice before giving an impromptu speech. She told her audience of the true meaning the establishment held for her as she stood on its stage on Lebanese Independence Day, which also coincided with the National Day of Oman. In light of the vicious war in Gaza, she said she believed “creativity alone conquers death and injustice.” She also explained that Oman meant a great deal to her, after being decorated by the Sultanate in 2007for lifetime achievement. In a welcome surprise to Omanis, she sang Melodious Oman by Lebanese lyricist Hassan al-Zein, which she had set to music especially for the occasion. At the end of the concert, the soprano received the Shield of the Royal Opera House in the presence of the Omani elite. Word has it she will be performing a similar concert at the same opera house next year.