This book relates the story of the establishment of the Royal Opera House Muscat as one of the great achievements of the Renaissance that was ushered in forty-five years ago when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos acceded to the throne of the Sultanate of Oman in the summer of 1970. In a remarkably short period of time, an advanced nation was built on the foundations of a proud history. In contrast to the middle decades of the twentieth century, Oman today has a strong, sustainable economy and a fully modern infrastructure, including state-of-the-art transportation and communication systems, as well as first-rate facilities for universal healthcare and a comprehensive system of education. The Renaissance is, at the same time, characterised by cultural efflorescence. While preserving the country's traditional heritage and culture, His Majesty introduced new forms of music to further enrich the cultural life of the nation. The history of the Royal Opera House is intimately linked with the evolution of music in modern Oman, which in turn is anchored in the nation's rich musical heritage.