Triumphal Opening of the Royal Theatre of Rabat under the Auspices of Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa

Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, attended on Wednesday evening the opening performance of the Royal Theatre of Rabat—this iconic landmark intended as a concrete manifestation of the High Solicitude constantly shown by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, towards art and culture.

Before taking their seats in the Royal Box to attend the performance, Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa—President of the Foundation of the Royal Theatre of Rabat—together with Mrs Brigitte Macron, were greeted by the members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

At the beginning of the performance, a film about the Royal Theatre was screened, presenting it as an institution symbolising the cultural and artistic renewal of the Kingdom’s capital and reflecting the cultural momentum Morocco is experiencing under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve Him, by promoting a modernist approach to Moroccan art and all that this entails in terms of enhancing creative potential.

This unique architectural and urban emblem will enable Rabat to rise to the rank of major international cultural destinations under the visionary impetus of His Majesty the King, may God glorify Him, and will allow the Kingdom to further consolidate its vocation as a land of intercultural dialogue, civilisational interaction, and the affirmation of universal values and ideals.

Following the performance of the national anthem by the orchestra and choir, the audience was invited to an exceptional musical moment, led by soloist Marouan Benabdallah in a classical music repertoire, mezzo-soprano Ahlima Mhamdi in great operatic arias, Samira Kadiri with an interpretation of the Arab-Andalusian heritage, and Driss El Maloumi, composer and oud performer, through a contemporary creation inspired by Moroccan sounds.

Thanks to a programme carried exclusively by Moroccan artists, guests witnessed a brilliant artistic and human adventure in which composers, soloists, singers, choristers, conductors, and musicians came together to celebrate the richness, excellence, and diversity of the national artistic scene—creative and open to the world’s various musical expressions.

Tchaikovsky’s concerto and arias by Bizet and Verdi stood alongside Andalusian themes and a contemporary Moroccan creation, in a sublime dialogue between the universal repertoire and national heritage.

To mark this historic moment, an exceptional union took place for the first time: that of the Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra, which is preparing to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary, and the Royal Symphony Orchestra, marking twenty years of existence. United on the same stage under the direction of Dina Bensaïd, 76 musicians and 40 choristers combined their talents in a single artistic momentum.

At the conclusion of the performance, Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, were greeted by soprano Samira Kadiri, mezzo-soprano Ahlima Mhamdi, conductor and concert pianist Dina Bensaïd, pianist Marouan Benabdallah, composer and oud virtuoso Driss El Maloumi, and Younes Terfas, Director of the Royal Symphony Orchestra.

Hundreds of artists, cultural stakeholders, intellectuals, creators from the performing and visual arts—Moroccan and international—as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Rabat (ambassadors, chargés d’affaires of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organisations) were invited to attend this opening performance.

Located at the heart of the Bouregreg Valley, in continuity with the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Theatre of Rabat stands—alongside the Mohammed VI Tower—as a symbol of the renewal and emergence of the Kingdom’s capital, fully in line with the integrated urban development programme “Rabat, City of Light, Moroccan Capital of Culture”, launched under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has made culture a pillar of the Kingdom’s development and progress.