The concert conducted by Anna Skryleva on Saturday, February 14, Music Theatre Headquarters of the Royal Guard, marked the successful conclusion of the cultural mission in Oman. This initiative strengthened the historic partnership with the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) and was developed within the framework of P+ARTS (Partnership for Artistic Research in Technology and Sustainability). Supported by the European Union, the program features NABA as the lead partner of an elite network comprising ten academic and AFAM institutions, united to merge artistic research, technological innovation, and sustainable models.
The Middle Eastern residency was characterized by high-profile educational and performance milestones. On February 9, five musicians from the Accademia—Chiara Rollini and Laila Farag (violins), Lois Loos (viola), Andrea Cavalazzi (cello), and Giulio Ruggeri (double bass)—performed alongside the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance was followed by a dedicated masterclass for the local string section, which allowed twenty local musicians to join the orchestral ranks for the final concert on February 14.
For the final performance, the versatile artist, conductor, pianist, and composer Anna Skryleva curated a repertoire exploring two cornerstones of the Russian tradition: Suites from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird. From Tchaikovsky’s world-renowned score, Skryleva selected movements of great intensity—from the Russian Dance to the Waltz of the Flowers, and the Dance of the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy—highlighting the perfect balance between intricate detail and symphonic power. Completing the program was the 1945 version of Stravinsky’s Suite, a masterpiece that condenses the imaginative power of the 1910 original into a score that alternates ethereal lyricism with avant-garde rhythmic drives.
Beyond the music, academic dialogue took center stage on February 12 during a roundtable discussion at the MultiPurpose Room at the ROHM. Moderated by Umberto Bellodi (P+ARTS scientific representative for the Accademia), the panel featured prominent figures including Umberto Fanni (Director General and Artistic Director, ROHM), Luisa Vinci (Strategic Coordination and Development, Accademia Teatro alla Scala), Daniele Borniquez (Head of Music Department, Accademia Teatro alla Scala), Elisa Poli (NABA and P+ARTS Coordinator), musicologist Livio Aragona (Conservatory "G. Verdi" of Milan), and Brigadier General Ramis bin Jamaan Al-Aweera of the Royal Guard. The debate underscored the vision of artistic research as a strategic engine for the evolution of the entire music production industry.
This project represents more than just a diplomatic bridge between Italy and Oman; it confirms that the internationalization of artistic education is the most effective tool for translating tradition into new contemporary languages. The Accademia Teatro alla Scala and the Royal Opera House Muscat thus sign a new chapter in an evolving cooperation, capable of transforming technical synergy into a shared vision for the future of music.
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