In these pages you will hopefully find interesting tips on how to take advantage of Cairo's many cultural opportunities, with particular attention to live events. Cairo Live Events Guide does not pretend to be exhaustive but will try to cover main events open to the public.

This is a private, independent, nonprofit endeavour. This blog was started in August 2008 by Cairowanderer who has been running it solo up to May 2011. Since then Cairene Beat contributes as well to the blog. If you have any comment, tip, or information you think might be relevant for the blog, please write to cairowanderer@gmail.com or cairenebeat@gmail.com.

Read about Cairo Live Events Guide on The Daily News Egypt

Friday, February 27, 2009

Alignment problems

UPDATE March 3:
ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS SOLVED!
********
I do not know why, but the AGENDA MUSIC in its published form come with a right alignment which is wrong and annoying. I tried to fix the problem (that do not appears at post writing stage) but could not manage.
If you want to read the AGENDA in its proper form, please click on the Latest Weekly Agenda label (why it comes right here is another mystery).
My apologies. Hope to be able to solve the problem soon.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

AGENDA MUSIC FEB. 28 - MAR. 7

Saturday, February 28, 2009

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra directed by Andreas Spörri with soloist Moushira Issa (piano) will present works from S. Rachmaninov and R. Strauss in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Nagham Masry (Modern Egyptian folk) at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- The bands Sohba, City Band, Meraya and 4x6 present contemporary Egyptian songs in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- AUCeyat present contemporary songs and music in the Wisdom Hall of El SAwi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Amir El Toni’s Al-Mawlaweya Al-Masreya Troupe at Beit Al-Suheimi 7:00 PM


Sunday, March 1, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra directed by Nader Abbassi and Cairo American College Choir presents Delibes’s opera LAKMÉ in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Amal El-Shahed piano recital with works from Schumann, Barber, Beethoven and Chopin in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Hee-Jung Ann piano recital with works from Bach, Debussy and Chopin, at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Brian Candy and French group Fishing with Tunes (Punk/Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- Yorka Band, led by pianist Abdel Moneim Said will present Andalusian music in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music present Kolthomiat at the Arab Music Institute 8:00 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM


Monday, March 2, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra directed by Nader Abbassi and Cairo American College Choir presents Delibes’s opera LAKMÉ in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Hossam Sakr (Religious chants) at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Instrumental Therapy (Rock) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Center 8:00 PM


Tuesday, March 3, 2009

- Stanley Gordon (USA) guitar recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM


Wednesday, March 4, 2009

- David Edgar (Georgia) piano recital with works of Rachmaninoff, Mendellsohn and Chopin in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- The Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Ahmed El Saedi present the musical tale Peter and the Wolf by S. Prokofiev in the Ewart Memorial Hall at AUC 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM ***CANCELLED***

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM


Thursday, March 5, 2009

- National Arab Music Ensemble directed by Selim Sahab at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM


Friday, March 6, 2009

- Boghady Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Marwa Samy (violin) musical fusion project at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

"GOMORRA" AT AUC

Tonight Wednesday, February 25 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Blue Room of AUC's Greek Campus in Tahrir Square will be screened the movie "GOMORRA" by Matteo Garrone (2008).
This much celebrated movie is part of the series "States within the States - A thousand facets of Italian Society". Based on the novel by Roberto Saviano, "GOMORRA" follows five separate stories through the slums and streets of Naples and shows how the Camorra works inside Italian society.

The movie will be in original language with English subtitles. Free entry.

Monday, February 23, 2009

EL SAWI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

On Wednesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 26, El Sawi will host El Sakia's Exhibition for Cultural Services, featuring concerts, theater plays, speeches and workshops. Live performances start at 5:00 PM on Wednesday and 5:30 PM on Thursday. The concerts program is as follows:

Wednesday, February 25
8:00 PM The Fuuls (USA)
8:30 PM Kirsten Wilkinson (USA)
9:20 PM Siwan Music Band (Egypt)
9:50 PM Sudanese Traditional Dance and Music (Sudan)

Thursday, February 26
8:00 PM Vocal Quartet Tritonus (D)
8:40 PM Flamenco Show (E)
9:00 PM Debmaster (F)
9:40 PM Siwan Music Band (Egypt)
10:20 PM Pellegrino Tulino (I)

Sunday, February 22, 2009

AKON in CAIRO

The Senegalese-American hip hop singer and songwriter AKON is going to perform live on Thursday, February 26 2009 at the Cairo Opera House. For the lover of the genre it is surely a great event. Tickets start at 150 EGP.
For more information, please follow this link to the Yallabina website who has a plan of the seating arrangements as well.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

AGENDA MUSIC FEB. 21 - FEB. 27


Saturday, February 21, 2009

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alain Paris with Wael Farouk (piano) presents works from Brahms, Bizet and Dukas in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Bashir (Modern Egyptian Folk) at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Hossam Samir (Oud and Piano) Recital in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM


Sunday, February 22, 2009

- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Farouk El Bably at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Blue Tone Quintet (Classic Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

- Varden & Octavarium (Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- Taxi Band (Contemporary Egyptian Songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Emad Hamdy Guitar Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM


Monday, February 23, 2009

- Sivitlina Kristiva Violin Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- El Mahatta Band (contemporary Egyptian Songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Karma & Simplexity (Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- Sodfa Band (Contemporary Egyptian Songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Sahra at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra directed by Nader Abbassi and Cairo American College Choir presents Delibes’s opera LAKMÉ in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Norwegian Rikskonsertene (TALENT project for young musical talents from Norway, Egypt and the Palestinian Territories) will present a concert in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Cairo Brass Band in the Ewart Hall of AUC Downtown Campus 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Ali El-Haggar (Classical Arab Songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 9:00 PM


Thursday, February 26, 2009

- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Egyptian Philharmonic Society conducted by Ahmed El Saedi with soloist Cheong Hee (Violin) presents works of Mendelssohn and Haydn in the Ewart Hall of AUC Downtown Campus 8:00 PM

- Riff Band (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM

- Nasseer Shamma (Oud) Recital in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 9:00 PM


Friday, February 27, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Company with Cairo Opera Orchestra directed by Nader Abbassi and Cairo American College Choir presents Delibes’s opera LAKMÉ in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Yehya Khalil (Jazz) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Samaa’a Troupe Sufi Songs at the Ghouri Palace 8:00 PM

- Ayamna El Helwa Band and Mohamad Othman (Arabic music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

EGYPTIAN PUPPET THEATRE FESTIVAL

Yes, I know, I am going down nostalgia lane here, but why not? I did enjoy puppet shows, who didn't? And then, did you know that the first evidence of the use of string operated wooden figurines is recorded in 2000 BC here in Egypt?

For the young who can still see the beauty of a live puppet show in the digital era, for parents who want to give their children a chance to see it, and for old nostalgic souls, Beit Al-Suheimi will host a festival devoted to the Popular Puppet Show and Stories of the Egyptian Marionettes from tomorrow Friday, February 20 to Friday, February 27.
There is going to be a show every night starting at 7:00 PM, except on the 22nd and 27th devoted to seminars and talks.

The location is wonderful, the nights are fresh, why not giving it a try?

Monday, February 16, 2009

ANDREA BOCELLI IN CAIRO

For those who are still sour after the saga of the cancelled Andrea Bocelli's concert in Alexandria last October, here is another chance, ... perhaps.

Andrea Bocelli is going to perform in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House on Monday, March 23rd. Looking at the long list of sponsors who lined up behind the event, this time there should not be any problem, but the Opera House (02 27390144 - 02 27390132) telephone operators say that the tickets are not yet on sale, that they are waiting for more information, and kindly asked to call them back next week.
Uhmmm ...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

"FRANKIE" - FRANKENSTEIN PROJECT from the Adham Hafez Company

The next five days will be a good time to visit the Townhouse Gallery if you have the opportunity. From today, Sunday February 15, until Friday February 20, the Factory space will host the "Frankenstein Project". Developed between Barcelona, Berlin and Cairo, it consists of dance performances, concerts, videos and installations. According to the authors, this interdisciplinary project explores notions of monstrosities within a contemporary context. The installation is opened daily from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM while performances start at 8:00 PM.

And today will also mark the opening of the the sound installation "Constructions and Hidden Monsters" by Nermine el Ansari. The installation will be hosted in the First Floor of the Gallery and will continue until March 11.

Townhouse Gallery, 10 El Nabrawi Street (off Champollion St.), Downtown

Thursday, February 12, 2009

AGENDA MUSIC FEB 14 - FEB 20

Saturday, February 14, 2009

- Georges Zamfir (Pan Flute) Valentine’s Day Concert with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Baraka Band at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts 8:00 PM

- CairoKee at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Wagih Aziz in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM


Sunday, February 15, 2009

- Akram El Sharkawy Band at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- Abdel Alim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music with Abdou Sherif in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Mohamed Hamdy (Clarinet) recital in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

- The Nubian Drums Band at the Ghouri Palace 8:00 PM


Monday, February 16, 2009

- Maarten Boisson (Cello) and Peter Cramer (Piano) recital in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- U 4 YA (Blues, Rock, Funk) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM


Wednesday, February 18, 2009

- Slovak National Folklore Ballet LÚCNICA in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM


Thursday, February 19, 2009

- Slovak National Folklore Ballet LÚCNICA in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Ines Abdel Daiem (Flute) Chamber Music Recital in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Rania Shaalan & Kira Ensemble in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Abdel Alim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Salah Ghobashi at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Screwdriver (Rock, Pop) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Ressala Band in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM


Friday, February 20, 2009

- Slovak National Folklore Ballet LÚCNICA in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Omar Khayrat (Piano) Recital in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC (Tahrir Campus) 7:00 PM

- Religious Song Ensemble conducted by Essam Abdel Moneim in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

MOHAMMED RAGAB "MACHINE EAT MAN"

I am not a big fan of electronic music but I still decided that the 1st Sakia Electronic Music Festival held at the end of January was an event worth attending and I made my way to the second evening. Of all the artists that performed, the one who made the best impression on me was Mohammed Ragab. Bent on his instruments and accompanied by a visual slide performance, he created a good atmosphere and pleasant sounds without being too harsh or becoming repetitive (being this the "accusation" that I most commonly direct towards electronic music).

What follows is the bio provided by Culture Wheel in the brochure accompanying the festival:
"Mohammed Ragab was born in Cairo, Egypt. He's an artist who make experimental electronic music. M. Ragab started his own project named "Machine Eat Man" aka M.E.M. seven years ago as an initial point to fulfill his passion for making electronic music, set out to bring analog synthesizers back into the spotlight in a day and age were multi-gigabyte samplers and laptop computers rule the electronic music scene.
M. Ragab has a degree in recording techniques and electronic music production from Recording Arts - Canada. M.E.M., signed by M.V.D. record label, delivers a hefty slice of synth-laden melody-fused electro-acoustic Egyptian beats."

Mohammed Ragab plays regularly in venues around Cairo.

Website: http://www.machineeatman.com/

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

THE ODD COUPLE: PINOCCHIO & SHAKESPEARE

I am usually not in the habit of writing events reviews. I always found them useless and bound to irritate, one way or another. You either read about something that was not worth seeing (and therefore why worth reading?) or about something beautiful that you have (sadly) missed; a waste of time, whichever way you look at it.
There is an exception though. And that's when an event repeats itself and the review comes out fast enough to give the reader the opportunity to attend the event in question, if he wishes to. And that's why I am talking of the ballet adaptation of Collodi's Pinocchio and of suites from Shakespeare's works that opened yesterday evening at the Cairo Opera House.
The Cairo Opera Ballet Company had a winning idea in coupling the two ballets. PINOCCHIO, coreographed by Sebastiano Coppa, was refreshing and entertaining, while Jeu d'échecs, coreographed by Joseph Russillo, more on the "serious" and classical side. Also the music reflected the distance between the two works: more movie soundtrack-like in the the former while pure classical in the latter.
Was it an odd combination? Maybe, but it worked wonderfully. First of all, I have never seen so many children at an evening show at the Opera House. I know that all of them came for Pinocchio, but they stayed through Shakespeare as well; great job! The main hall was almost full and both plays received a deserved long series of applauses. The performances of Ali Mahmoud as Pinocchio was really good, but everybody did a great job, really.

Pinocchio and Jeu D'échecs will run until Friday, February 13 in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM (approx. ends 10:20 PM), if you have the chance, go and see it, you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

MOVIE NIGHT AT CFCC

Tonight, Tuesday February 10, at 8:00 PM the French Cultural centre in Mounira will screen "La raison du plus faible", a crime movie from Lucas Belvaux who was selected to compete in Cannes. The movie will be in French with English subtitles. Free entry.
For movie information and plot in English, click here.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

AGENDA MUSIC FEB 7 - FEB 13

Saturday, February 7, 2009

- The Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marcello Mottadelli presents works from various Arab composers in the closing concert of the 7th Arab Perspectives Music Festival in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Charlie Young Quartet (Jazz/USA) in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Rania Yehia Flute recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company presents “The Virgin Butterfly” at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Bashir at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM


Sunday, February 8, 2009

- Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Wolfgang Schroeder (also Violin soloist) present an evening celebrating Mendelssohn Bartholdy in the Mohamed Ali Palace 8:00 PM

- Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company presents “The Virgin Butterfly” at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Nomades Intercontinental (Jazz) with saxophonist Florent Cornillet in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Quartetto di Roma (Italy) plays music from A. Casella and M. Ravel in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Baraka at the Ghouri Caravanseray 8:00 PM

- Cocoon (Jazz Standards and Latin popular hits) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM


Monday, February 9, 2009

- Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company presents “The Virgin Butterfly” at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Mona Wassef Harp Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Orchestra and Cairo Opera Ballet Company present the ballets Pinocchio (music from G. Verdi and N. Rota) and Jeu d’échecs (music from D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev and C. Orff) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- The Egyptian Philharmonic Society conducted by Ahmed Al Saedi will present an evening dedicated to Baroque Music under the title Giuseppe Torelli: A Great Baroque composer in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Crash Boom Bang (Funk, Latin, Pop) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Orchestra and Cairo Opera Ballet Company present the ballets Pinocchio (music from G. Verdi and N. Rota) and Jeu d’échecs (music from D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev and C. Orff) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Sharara Sextet in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Massar Egbari in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Egy Rap School and Y-Crew Band in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Qithara Ensemble led by Alfred Gamil (Classical Arab Music) at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM


Thursday, February 12, 2009

- The Egyptian Philharmonic Society conducted by Ahmed Al Saedi will present an evening dedicated to Baroque Music under the title Giuseppe Torelli: A Great Baroque composer at the Amir Taz Palace 8:00 PM

- The Cairo Opera Orchestra and Cairo Opera Ballet Company present the ballets Pinocchio (music from G. Verdi and N. Rota) and Jeu d’échecs (music from D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev and C. Orff) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Vasilis Tsitsanis Group (Traditional music/Greece) in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Soprano Neveen Allouba Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Farouk El Bably at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Eftekasat 7th Anniversary Celebration concert with guest singer Hany Adel (Wust El Balad) and Tannoura dancer Mokhtar Hakeem in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Bad Apple in the River Hall f El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- United Nile Reggae at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- El Hadra Troupe for Religious singing and Music at Beit al Suheimi 7:00 PM


Friday, February 13, 2009

- The Cairo Opera Orchestra and Cairo Opera Ballet Company present the ballets Pinocchio (music from G. Verdi and N. Rota) and Jeu d’échecs (music from D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev and C. Orff) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Black Theama Ensemble at the Ghomouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Ahmed Rabie Band in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Osman el Mahdi Violin and Piano Recital in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Salalem at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts 8:00 PM

- Samaa’a Troupe for Sufi music and singing at the Ghouri Palace 8:00 PM

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Manial Palace)

Due to restoration works at the Manasterly Palace, the International Music Center will temporarily hold his excellent series of concerts in the Golden Hall of the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (aka Manial Palace) in Manial. The first event to be scheduled there, last Sunday, had a full house crowd, and the concert was indeed great. The Janacek Quartet sounded beautifully. Despite the odd semicircular seat arrangement and the at first sight not so ideal shape of the hall, the acoustic was really good. If you make an effort not to be distracted by all the glitter emanating from walls and ceiling and focus on the music, I am sure you'll get a rewarding experience.
Practicalities: The IMC could have made more of an effort in the map available on their website. Everybody can find how to get to the Palace (at the north/eastern end of Manial (aka Roda) Island, ...just in case) but the missing important piece of information is that the entrance is not on Al-Saray St. where the main entrance of the Palace is. Instead, when you are coming on the Al-Saray St. (one way east direction) you have to turn right inside the street that borders the palace compound eastern walls (I have no clue about the name of the street). Continue about 300 mt. and you'll find the entrance on your left.
This little piece of information would have spared several cars a pair of dangerous u-turns and made the life of the guard at the main entrance easier. When I arrived, there were two other cars in front of us, both looking for the concert and questioning the guard.
Sadly the parking seems to be a major hassle, and at the end of the concert there was quite some chaos as this little road where the entrance is seem to be two ways.
Getting there on foot is nice and commendable but I reckon it is not for everybody. It requires you to take the Metro until Tahrir Square (Sadat Station) and walk back about 30 minutes on the Corniche until the Saray bridge from where you cross into Manial. You'll find the Palace immediately on your left.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Exhibition "BLOW UP: Images from the Nanoworld"

I do like figurative arts, and would like to prepare a weekly agenda for exhibitions as well, but I did not find the time yet. I'll work on it! For the time being I have to limit myself to posting information about exhibition that I deem particularly interesting.

One is opening tomorrow, Monday, February 2, in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House.
"Blow up” is an exhibition about nanotechnology with pictures of the nano-world, magnified millions of times and should appeal to both artists and scientists. The exhibition is presented by the Italian Institute for the Physics of Nanostructures, Biosystems and Surfaces of the National Research Center, based in Modena, near Bologna.
The Opening ceremony with addresses and talks from Egyptian and Italian figures from the art and science worlds, including a talk from the author of the images, starts at 10:00 AM, followed by a reception from 12:00AM to 1:PM. From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM a guided tour of the exhibition will take place.