The Royal Opera House Mumbai celebrates 1st anniversary

EE News Desk Oct 23, 2017

The space has been owned by the Royal Family of Gondal since 1952 and was eventually restored under the leadership of the current Maharaja of Gondal, Shri Jyotendrasinhji. Having since bee restored and reopened last October, The Royal Opera House, Mumbai has since re-established itself as a performance space of quality, a cultural venue and an example of restored and renewed city heritage.

In the one year since its reopening, the programming at the space has aimed to scale new heights bringing in all aspects of the performing arts, culture, art and fashion. Highlights of the year include the opening night of classic operatic arias and songs, the first full opera production, Il Matrimonio Segreto, a first in 100 years, the finale show at the opening day of the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2017, Opening Ceremony of the Jio Mami Film Festival with Star, a concert of Hindustani Classical Music marking the Serendipity Arts Festival’s Mumbai Curtain Raiser, launch of Gallerie Magazine’s 20th year celebration, high-profile book launches, an architectural photography workshop and contest, and heritage walkthroughs and tours. The stage has played host to an array of English and regional language theatre like Lilette Dubey’s Gauhar, META Award winner, Yuki Ellias’ Elephant in the Room and the Gandhian play Yugpurush. The auditorium rocked with laughter with the stand up comedy of the likes of Kenny Sebastian and Cyrus Broacha. The event was also graced with unique performances by Indian and international performers, ensembles, choirs, bands and groups including Paranjyoti Choir, Neemrana Foundation, The Mehli Mehta Music Foundation, Sinfonia Verdi, Orchestra da Camera di Mantova, The Asia Society, Aga Khan Music Foundation, Louiz Banks, Patricia Rozario, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Sarod sensations, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, Shubha Mudgal, The Magnets and many more.

The Opera House also joined the global movement to increase awareness on Autism on World Autism Awareness Day by being illuminated with blue light in solidarity with the cause.

To celebrate one year of its return and revival the Opera house has launched a digital campaign #CelebrateMumbaiOpera on various highpoints of the year gone by. Additionally, it will launch a celebratory anniversary video, and its first virtual tour on Facebook live which takes you into the inner sanctum of the venue while sharing intimate anecdotes, trivia, histories and more.