CLEG on holiday

Due to the forthcoming long holiday weekend, CLEG will not be updated until next Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
Happy Eid to all CLEG readers. 

Mario Monicelli's "AMICI MIEI" at AUC

The American University in Cairo, Office of Student Development, and ITACA, present Mario Monicelli's movie "AMICI MIEI" (1975) tomorrow, Tuesday November 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM in Room 210, Main Building -Tahrir Campus. Free entry.

The movie will be introduced by Vincenzo Mattei and presented with English subtitles.

"Amici miei" (Italian for "My Friends") is considered by many the masterpiece of Mario Monicelli. The film was followed by two sequels, and is an interesting excerpt from popular Italian culture of the seventies. It tells the story of four men in their fifties: forgetful of their families they spend their time organizing ingenious jokes, in a mixture of childish and adult behaviour. Amici Miei portrays their life with humor, but is also a reflection on freedom, society and life as a whole.

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC NOV. 21 - NOV. 27

Saturday, November 21, 2009
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marcello Mottadelli with soloist Moushira Hissa (Piano) present works from Mendellsohn, Beethoven and Verdi in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Casser le Mur (Spain/Morocco Electronic fusion) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Religious Songs Ensemble in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Ahmed El Haggar (Arabic music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM

Sunday, November 22, 2009
- Sindbad with Ahmad El Sawy (Oud, voice, electronics) and video projection by Christoph Oertli (Switzerland) at the Rawabet Theatre, 8:00 PM 
- Sincronie Music Ensemble (Italy/Electro-acoustic music and video installation) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Arab Institute, 8:00 PM
- Neveen Allouba (Voice recital) in the Malak Gabr Arts Theatre of AUC New Cairo Campus, 7:00 PM
- El Nil Troupe for Folk Instruments at Beit El Suheimi, 8:30 PM
- Bisheer (Nubian music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Medic & Key Stone (Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Taxi Band (Contemporary Egyptian music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- F.Y.I. (Latin jazz fusion) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM

Monday, November 23, 2009
- MOMIX Ballet Company directed by Moses Pendleton (USA) presents “Best of MOMIX” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Ahmed El Saedi with soloist Wael Farouk (Piano) present works from Haydn, Beethoven and Grieg, in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:0 PM
- Karimouche (France/Chanson) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 9:00 PM
- Wust El Balad at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- MOMIX Ballet Company directed by Moses Pendleton (USA) presents “Best of MOMIX” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Nass Makan at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Hekayat & Shady Moones (Egyptian music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Crash Boom Bang (Funk and dance floor covers) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Wednesday, November 25, 2009
- MOMIX Ballet Company directed by Moses Pendleton (USA) presents “Best of MOMIX” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Zar music) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Ali El Haggar (Arabic songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

Thursday, November 26, 2009
- MOMIX Ballet Company directed by Moses Pendleton (USA) presents “Best of MOMIX” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Osman El Mahdy (Violin) and Wael Farouk (Piano) perform sonatas from Beethoven and Frank in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Sahra Band (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Yorka & Abd El Moneim Saeed (Andalusian music) in the Wisdom Hall of EL Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Karma (Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek

Friday, November 27, 2009

SOS Music Festival Vol. 11

In case you've missed the announcement in the Weekly Agenda, it's time for another SOS music festival!
The 11th edition (or Vol. 11 as the organizers like to call it) will take place next Friday, November 20 2009 at the El Gezira Youth Center (Markaz Shabab El Gezira), the same open air venue of last spring wonderful Vol. 10.
I attended last festival and was really surprised by the organization, the sound quality and the excellent atmosphere, with a crowd far more relaxed and "polite" than the one you'll find at similar open air events in Europe.    
It is an excellent opportunity to hear in one go some of the best local groups and a pair of foreign act as well. My advice is ... GO, you won't regret it.

"CHILDREN OF HEAVEN" at AUC

I am sorry to be a bit late with this post but if you are still looking for a way to escape the feverish "football atmosphere" gripping the town, this evening you can lock yourself (not literally) inside the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Downtown campus and watch the beautifully poetic movie "Children of Heaven" by Iranian film maker Majid Majidi. The1997 movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998.

Screening starts at 7:00 PM (if you're lucky you'll be home before the end of the football match). Free entrance.

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC NOV. 14 - NOV. 20

Saturday, November 14, 2009
- “Gala Concert celebrating Fullbright Commission 60th Anniversary”, with Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marcello Mottadelli and several guests soloist (see program). Works by Verdi, Poulenc, Puccini, Gershwin and others. Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Beshir (Modern Egyptian Folk) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM

Sunday, November 15, 2009
- Nima Sarkechik (Iran-France/piano) present works by Beethoven, Brahms, Bach and Prokofiev in the Golden Room of the Mohammed Ali Palace, 8:00 PM
- Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and Cairo Opera Choir (Choir Master Aldo Magnato) present Puccini’s opera “Tosca” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Akram El Sharkawi (Oriental and contemporary jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- El Nil Troupe for Folk Instruments at Beit El Suheimi, 8:30 PM
- Bisheer (Nubian music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Silent Echo (Rock) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Sohba Band (Arabic music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Kholtomiat at the Arab Music Institute, 8:00 PM

Monday, November 16, 2009
- Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and Cairo Opera Choir (Choir Master Aldo Magnato) present Puccini’s opera “Tosca” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Mohamed Harb (Violin) and Sherif Mostafa (Piano) recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Amr Abulnaga Cairo Brass Quintet in the Oriental Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Arab Rap Family (Rap music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Galgamesh with singer Michelle Rounds (Jazz) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Bikya (Electronic and trip-hop) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Wust El Balad at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
- Michael Quinn and the Bourbon Kings (Americana, roots music and rock) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM
- Nass Makan at the Makan, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
- Kuban Ensemble for Circassian Folklore (Jordan) present “Sabre of Peace”in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Philarmonic Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ahmed El Saedi presents works from Piazzolla in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Zar music) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Ahmed Wahdan (Oud) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- The Egyptians at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

Thursday, November 19, 2009
- Merry Go Round (Rock’n’Roll) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Sahra Band (Rai music) at the Geneina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, 8:00 PM

Friday, November 20, 2009
- SOS Music Festival Vol.11 with Nagham Masry, DJ Feedo & Asfalt, The Percussion Show, Ressala, Eftekasat, Bad Apple, Ode, Babak Maddah, Merry Go Round and Casser le Mur (Spain/Morocco) at the Gezira Youth Center starting at 3:00 PM
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Salma (Fairuz covers) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

MATHIAS PFEIFFER's "Desert Sea Light" Exhibition

"Desert Sea Light", an exhibition of works by Mathias Pfeiffer will open at the Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art on Sunday, November 15 2009 at 7:00 PM with the presence of the artist.
I really like his works and this is an unique opportunity to see them in Cairo. And beside the pleasure for the eyes, who knows ... maybe you'll find that "very special" Christmas present you were looking for.
The exhibition remains open until December 10.

In his artworks made of porcelain, the German ceramist Mathias Pfeiffer presents design and home accessories, intending to give the objects of everyday use an emission of nature without loosing their functional aspects. The subtle, expressive colours provide the room with a chance for the exploration of manifold surface structures and details. The transparency of lighting objects maintains the ability to change according to light incidence, turning them from cool smooth objects into warm bodies where organic outlines are emphasized.
The artwork of Mathias Pfeiffer was shown in several galleries in Europe, Africa, South America and the USA.

The MASHRABIA GALLERY of Contemporary Art is at 8, Champollion Street - Cairo - Downtown
Tel. 5784494 - Mob.: 010 1704554
Open daily except Fridays: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.