A superstar songbird’s gift to Omani women
IMG 2003
photos by Khalid Al Busaidi -
The turn out at the Royal Opera House Muscat on Tuesday evening was phenomenal. Never have so many Omani ladies thronged the hall at a sell-out celebration for Omani Women’s Day – featuring the Yemeni Superstar Balqees with her band, and Omani support acts. Tickets were like gold dust and there was a waiting list a mile long, so this reviewer was lucky to attend.
Anticipation in the mostly Arabic audience was palpable as the 10 string players of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra Ladies Ensemble filed on stage to open the evening. In what might be referred to as a “warm-up” act before the main attraction, the musicians selected two short but compelling numbers to engage and amuse.