Sultan Qaboos is a Muslim of the Ibadhi sect which has traditionally ruled Oman. [4] A religious liberal, he has financed the construction or maintenance of a number of mosques, as well as the holy places of other religions.
Qaboos was married in 1976 to his cousin, Kamila, née Sayyida Nawwal bint Tariq (born 1951), daughter of HH Sayyed Tariq bin Taimur al-Said,[5] but the marriage soon ended in divorce. He has no children. [6]
He is an avid listener to and promoter of classical music. His 120 member orchestra has a high reputation in the Middle East. Although initially trained by British professionals (who were paid much more than Omanis], whence most were recruited), the orchestra consists entirely of young Omanis who, since 1986, audition as children and grow up as members of the symphonic ensemble. They play locally and travel abroad with the sultan (although not to Salafi Saudi Arabia, because the orchestra mixes male and female musicians).[3] Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin was commissioned to compose a work entitled Symphonic Impressions of Oman[7] and is particularly enthusiastic about the pipe organ.[8] Such cultural innovations by the sultan have, however, been criticised as "just wasted money" because, as an Omani professional observed in 2001, "music diverts us from being serious about religion."[3]
Qaboos was married in 1976 to his cousin, Kamila, née Sayyida Nawwal bint Tariq (born 1951), daughter of HH Sayyed Tariq bin Taimur al-Said,[5] but the marriage soon ended in divorce. He has no children. [6]
He is an avid listener to and promoter of classical music. His 120 member orchestra has a high reputation in the Middle East. Although initially trained by British professionals (who were paid much more than Omanis], whence most were recruited), the orchestra consists entirely of young Omanis who, since 1986, audition as children and grow up as members of the symphonic ensemble. They play locally and travel abroad with the sultan (although not to Salafi Saudi Arabia, because the orchestra mixes male and female musicians).[3] Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin was commissioned to compose a work entitled Symphonic Impressions of Oman[7] and is particularly enthusiastic about the pipe organ.[8] Such cultural innovations by the sultan have, however, been criticised as "just wasted money" because, as an Omani professional observed in 2001, "music diverts us from being serious about religion."[3]
