Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco, accompanied by Brigitte Macron, spouse of the President of France, attended the opening performance of the Royal Theatre of Rabat on Wednesday evening.
The new cultural landmark reflects the continued high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for arts and culture in the Kingdom.
Prior to the performance, Their Royal Highnesses, with Princess Lalla Hasnaa also serving as President of the Royal Theatre of Rabat Foundation, and Mrs. Macron, were welcomed by members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The evening opened with a short film presenting the Royal Theatre, highlighting its role as a symbol of cultural and artistic renewal in the Moroccan capital and its contribution to the Kingdom’s cultural dynamism. The film also underscored efforts to promote a modern artistic approach while enhancing creative capacities.
This architectural and urban landmark, developed under the vision of His Majesty the King, is expected to strengthen Rabat’s position as an international cultural destination and reinforce Morocco’s role as a platform for intercultural dialogue and the promotion of universal values.
Following the national anthem performed by an orchestra and choir, the audience was treated to a musical programme featuring Moroccan artists. Pianist Marouan Benabdallah performed classical works, while mezzo-soprano Ahlima Mhamdi interpreted operatic arias. Singer Samira Kadiri presented pieces from the Arab-Andalusian repertoire, and composer and oud player Driss El Maloumi offered a contemporary composition inspired by Moroccan musical heritage.
The programme showcased Morocco’s artistic diversity through performances combining classical and traditional influences, including works by Tchaikovsky, Bizet, and Verdi, alongside Andalusian-inspired and contemporary Moroccan compositions.
For this inaugural event, the Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Symphony Orchestra performed together for the first time, bringing together 76 musicians and 40 choristers under the direction of conductor Dina Bensaïd.
At the end of the performance, Their Royal Highnesses and Mrs. Macron greeted the artists, including Samira Kadiri, Ahlima Mhamdi, Dina Bensaïd, Marouan Benabdallah, Driss El Maloumi, and Younes Terfas, director of the Royal Symphony Orchestra.
The event was attended by hundreds of Moroccan and foreign artists, cultural figures, intellectuals, performing and visual arts professionals, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Rabat.
Located in the Bouregreg valley near the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Theatre of Rabat stands alongside the Mohammed VI Tower as a symbol of the capital’s urban and cultural renewal. It forms part of the “Rabat, City of Light, Moroccan Capital of Culture” development programme, initiated under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Morocco’s cultural heritage, shaped by Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, and African influences, has long included rich theatrical traditions rooted in oral storytelling and popular performance. Since the early 20th century, modern theatre has developed through the work of pioneering playwrights and troupes, evolving into a dynamic space for artistic expression and social reflection. The Royal Theatre of Rabat now represents a new milestone in this trajectory, consolidating a living and evolving cultural heritage under royal patronage.