The Metropolitan Opera (Met Opera) will host its captivating operas in Riyadh for five consecutive years, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The groundbreaking development is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Music Commission, the Royal Diriyah Opera House, and the Met Opera. The partnership aims to establish the Met Opera as the winter resident company at the Royal Diriyah Opera House once it opens.
The Royal Diriyah Opera House is a prominent cultural landmark at the core of the Diriyah giga-project. Spanning more than 14 square kilometers, its design is inspired by traditional Najdi architecture. The project also includes a 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena, a collection of museums, over 40 world-class hotels, and more than 20,000 residential units.
Under the MoU, the Met Opera will travel to Riyadh each winter for five years to stage full operas and concerts over three-week periods.
Moreover, the agreement includes a commitment to training promising Saudi opera singers and theatre artisans to nurture their skills and support career development in the operatic arts. The partnership also envisions the production of a new global opera.
On this occasion, the Saudi Music Commission Chief Executive, Paul Pacifico, said: “At the Saudi Music Commission, we are committed to empowering talent, providing them with the skills, platforms, and global exposure they need to flourish.”
He added that this collaboration represents a new avenue for sharing Saudi stories through music and enriching the global cultural landscape.
Similarly, the Met Opera General Manager, Peter Gelb, underscored that cultural exchange between nations is “essential on a human level.”
The agreement reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to expanding artistic cooperation with leading international institutions, strengthening cultural dialogue through music, and fostering professional growth for local talent, in line with Vision 2030.
