The Royal Opera House

Description

“Having been extensively restored and reopened in October 2016, we are a performance space and cultural venue par excellence. Widely touted as the city’s Cultural Crown Jewel and India’s only surviving Opera House, we are one of the last standing Baroque structures in Mumbai today. Royal Opera House Mumbai winning an Award of Merit in the 2017 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation was the feather in the cap and big shot in the arm for this mammoth task of resonation. It was indeed a proud Moment for all the Mumbaikars and All Indians for us to have won this accolade. The Royal Opera House Mumbai (ROHM) is widely touted as Mumbai’s Cultural Crown Jewel and India’s only surviving Opera House. The original idea for the space was conceived of in 1908, inaugurated in 1911 by King George V, and eventually completed in 1916. The design incorporated a blend of European and Indian detailing. The space became a cinema in later years before falling into disrepair and shutting by the 1990s. Fittingly, the space has been owned by the Royal Family of Gondal since 1952 and was eventually restored by conservation architect, Abha Narain Lambah under the leadership of the current Maharaja of Gondal, Shri Jyotendrasinhji. The Royal Opera House Mumbai, now one of the last remaining Baroque structures in the city, reopened after 23 years in October 2016. The building was included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch to raise awareness about its history and significance, and support preservation efforts. Today, it stands as a prime example of restored and renewed city heritage”