Muscat: The highlight of the month is the Folk Music Festival, taking place on January 16 and 17 at the Marine Square of the House of Musical Arts. This year’s festival showcases a vibrant cultural exchange, featuring traditional Omani folk bands alongside international ensembles from Bulgaria, South Korea, and Paraguay.

Opera enthusiasts can look forward to Giuseppe Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, a tale of love, loss, and political intrigue. The production, conducted by the acclaimed Valery Gergiev and directed by Andrea De Rosa, will grace the stage on January 23 and 25. Attendees can deepen their appreciation through an Opera Seminar on January 22 or a Lunchtime Music session on January 18, featuring live excerpts and insights into Verdi’s work.

Russian opera takes center stage on January 24, with a concert of masterpieces by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky, performed by emerging talents from the Mariinsky Theatre.

Lebanese icon Majida El Roumi will perform on January 30 and February 1, delivering a repertoire of poetic and heartfelt melodies that celebrate love, humanity, and loyalty.

ROHM’s January program also emphasizes community engagement. Highlights include a “Let’s Read” storytelling session on January 11, with readings from Harry Potter in Arabic and English, and the Paganini for All initiative, offering violin workshops and a symposium for Omani students.