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

Sunday, February 28, 2010

WOMEN IN CINEMA, Film Club at the Goethe Institute in Cairo

Starting tomorrow Monday March 1, 2010 the Goethe Institute will screen a series of movies where women have a central role either as directors or as actresses. On program for this first evening are two Egyptian productions, the short movie "Rise and Shine" by Sherif Al Bendary (2006) and the movie "Sheherazade, Tell me a story" (2009) by Yousry Nasrallah. Both movies are in Arabic with English subtitles.
Screening starts at 7:00 PM and takes place at the Goethe Institute, 5, Shera Al Bustan - Downtown. Free entry.

For the complete program and movies synopsis (in German only), click here.

ESEDRA (Italy) in concert at the MAKAN

Thanks once again to Yahya Mekkawi for attracting my attention to the concert of the Italian band ESEDRA that will take place tomorrow, Monday March 1st 2010 at the Makan, 9:00 PM.
You can listen to a couple of their song and know more about them at their website (unfortunately only in Italian language)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC FEB. 27 - MAR. 5


Saturday, February 27, 2010
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andreas Spörri with soloist Inès Abdel Daim (Flute) present works from Berlioz, Khachaturian and Shostakovich in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ali El Ward (Iraq/Arabic music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Instrumental Therapy & THE (Progressive Rock) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Massar Egbari (Rock) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Sunday, February 28, 2010
- “Nordic Gala” with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi with soloists Stefanos Thomopoulos (piano), Mona Rafla (Soprano) and Jolie Faizy (Mezzo-Soprano) present works by Stenhammar, N/ielsen and Grieg in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Mahmoud Osman violin recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- George Kazazian (Oud) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- The Riff Band at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Cocoon Band (Latin jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Al-Enshad Al-Dini religious song ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Saama troupe, Indonesian troupe and Coptic troupe for religious singing at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian music) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM

Monday, March 1, 2010
- Chamber music concert celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, with Elena Dzamashvili (Piano), Mohamed Abdel Fattah (Cello), Dina Iskander (Soprano) and Iman Samy (Piano) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- String Quartet featuring Mounir Nasr El Din (Violin) in the Oriental Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Esedra (Italy/Jazz) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- El Mahatta (Contemporary Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Wust El Balad (Modern oriental and jazz fusion) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- DJ Tito (Minimal house) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
- Amal Maher in the Small Hall of the 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
- Sodfa Band (Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Pirates on Parade (Acoustic covers) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
- Chamber music concert celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, with Elena Dzamashvili (Piano), Mohamed Abdel Fattah (Cello), Dina Iskander (Soprano) and Iman Samy (Piano) in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Asfalt - El ZeroArab Rap Family - Samy Z (Hip Hop and Rap) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Gowaya Aghat (Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- DJ Ramsi (Funky house) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Thursday, March 4, 2010
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Taha Nagui with soloist Haitham Ibrahim (Piano) present works from Rossini and Mozart in the Small hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Sahra (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Yehya Khalil (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Friday, March 5, 2010
- Iman Nour El Din piano recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Coptic Hymns Ensemble conducted by Diaa Sabri at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM DJ Carlos at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

THE FELUKULELES "The Old Bazar in Cairo" video

Catchy tune, lovely shooting and one or two people you might know here and there. This video by the FELUKULELES is great fun and a delight for anybody who live and love Cairo.

Thank you and good luck, Felukuleles.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Italian Movie Night at AUC

Itaca, the Italian Student Association of the American University in Cairo presented the 2010 program of the Italian Film Forum. The first movie of the series will be "Nuovomondo" (The Golden Door) by Emanuele Crialese (2006) that will be screened tomorrow Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 PM in Room 209 of the Main Building in Tahrir Campus with a special introduction by the writer Vincenzo Mattei.



Nuovomondo, 'The New World', is the story of a poor Italian family migrating to America at the beginning of the XXth century. Their dream of endless prosperity, tastefully portrayed by Crialese through the intermission of surrealist scenes in seas of milk and giant vegetables, has its darker counterpart in the strict examinations each family member undergoes once arrived. Through the story of this family the movie portrays the irreducible dignity of past and present migrants.
The movie will be in Italian language with English subtitles. Free Entry.

Festival of Argentinian Cinema in Cairo

A four-day Festival of Argentinian Cinema was inaugurated yesterday at the Artistic Creativity Center in the Cairo Opera House Grounds. The festival, organized by the Argentinian Embassy in Cairo and the Instituto Cervantes de El Cairo will continue today, Monday February 22, 2010 at 7:00 PM with the screening of the movie "La Camara Oscura" (2008). Tuesday 23 at 7:00 PM will be screened the movie "El Otro" (2007) and finally Wednesday 24 at 6:00 PM the movie "Historias extraordinarias" (2008).
All movies are in Spanish language with English subtitles. Free entry until seats are available; you are requested to be there half an hour before projection time in order to collect a ticket. No entry below 16 years old.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

CD tip: KAMILYA JUBRAN & WERNER HASLER "Wameedd"

I got to know (artistically, not personally) Kamilya Jubran last year on the occasion of the concert she gave here in Cairo after the screening of the wonderful movie "Telling Strings", a portrait of her family that is essentially an insight in the life of Palestinians who chose not to leave Israel.

She came on stage alone with her oud and after the first chords I immediately understood that there was something special in the way she plays the instrument and she uses her voice. While I cannot claim to be an oud expert, I came to love the instrument after I arrived in Cairo and am building a collection of oud records. Kamilya Jubran's music has an edge of originality and experimentation in it that makes it not easy at first hearing but still grips you emotionally.

"Wameedd" was released in 2005 and has been made available here in Egypt with the cooperation of Al Mawred al-Thaqafi. It is on sale at Diwan, Al Kotob Khan or at the stand of Al Mawred on the occasion of the concerts at the Geneina Theatre.

Visit Kamilya Jubran website to listen to extracts from the record.   

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Movie evening at the Italian Cultural Institute

Tomorrow, Sunday February 21, 2010 at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, the Italian Cultural Institute will screen the comedy "BEFORE YOU KNOW IT" (Italy 2006), directed by Ivan Polidoro and starring Gianfelice Imparato, Gianni Ferreri, Mimmo Esposito, Lorenza Indovina.

For Ivo, Rosario and Peppe, days go by between work, family problems and daily life. They also play music in dreary looking clubs. Their music is not well liked, but they keep persisting. Then suddenly the news: Paolo ’e Fierro is dead, local mafia hood, famous for his hold-ups. Or better, he feigns death in order to escape with the loot. And up to here, nothing seems strange. But on the night of a full moon, in the cemetery, they witness a mysterious and ghastly scene: the Boss, who is a stand offish type and covered in scars, has Paolo ’e Fierro 's tomb excavated by two maniacs and discovers something he was afraid of... From then on the quiet tranquility of the small town will be tarnished. (Synopsis provided by the IIC)

The movie will be in Italian with English subtitles. Free Entry.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC FEB. 20 - FEB. 25

Saturday,February 20, 2010
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Giovanni Pacor with soloist Mohamed Hamdy (Clarinet) present music from Tchaikowsy, von Weber and Borodin in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Omar Khairat at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 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

Sunday, February 21, 2010
- Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present a new production of Aram Khatchaturian’s “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Neveen Allouba (Soprano) recital of Schumann songs at the Malak Gabr Arts Theatre, AUC New Cairo campus, 1:00 PM
- El Masreyyin Rageen (Arabic songs from the 70’s) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- The Nubian Drums Troupe led by Entesar Abdel-Fattah a the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian music) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- F.Y.I. (Jazz standards) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM

Monday, February 22, 2010
- Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present a new production of Aram Khatchaturian’s “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Philarmonic Society Trio with Alexandra Mack (Violin), Victoria Kapralova (Cello) and Haytham Ibrahim (Piano) present works from Piazzolla, El Saedi and Mendelssohn at Kasr El Fenoun, inside the Cairo Opera House grounds, 8:00 PM
- Neveen Allouba recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Wust El Balad (Modern oriental and jazz fusion) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM


Tuesday, February 23, 2010
- Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present a new production of Aram Khatchaturian’s “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Yorka (Andalusian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Asia (Sudanese traditional music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
- Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present a new production of Aram Khatchaturian’s “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Amany Soliman flute and nay recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ali El Haggar (Arabic music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 9:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Thursday, February 25, 2010
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Farouk El Bably at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Yehya Khalil, Alex Wilson (UK) and Davide Mantovani (Italy) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Basmet El Andalus at El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Sahra (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM

Friday, February 26, 2010
- Fathy Salama's Sharkiat in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Naseer Shamma (Oud) at EL Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Bad Apple (Rock) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Cinema Club at the Cairo Opera House

Received this interesting tip from Yahya Mekkawi:
tonight, Tuesday February 16, 2010 in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House at 7:00 PM will be screened the movie El Callejón De Los Milagros (1995) based on the novel Zuqāq al-Midaq (Midaq Alley) by Naguib Mahfouz.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Contemporary Arabic novels, reviewed.

The New Yorker published last month "Found in transaltion" a sweeping review of contemporary Arabic novels translated and printed in English. It is, as it often happens with New Yorker's articles, very informative and long, but you will not regret the time spent on it. So, to get original inspirations for future readings, or to simply increase your knowledge on the topic, click here to go straight to the article.

Friday, February 12, 2010

2010 JAPANESE FILM WEEK FEB. 14 - FEB. 18

Starting Sunday February 14 the Artistic Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House grounds will host the 2010 Japanese Film Week. The festival will run till Thursday, February 18.
There will be two screenings a day, at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. All movies will have English and Arabic subtitles. Entry is free but you must get a ticket at the ticket office of the Centre. Capacity of the theatre is 200 seats and standing in the theatre is not allowed. The Centre is in a building on the north-west corner of the grounds, on the right when you enter the grounds from the parking lot entrance.
For the program of the week, with movies synopsis click here, but I also suggest you check the site of the Japanese Foundation - Cairo Office because there have been already some changes on the original programme. 

Thursday, February 11, 2010

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC February 13 - February 19

Saturday, February 13, 2010

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui with soloists Dalia Farouk (soprano) and David Wickeham (tenor) present Johannes Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 2:00 PM
- Kolthoumiat with the Ensemble for Arab music conducted by Salah Gobashi in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Salalem (Contemporary Egyptian songs) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- City Band (Contemporary Egyptian songs) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Egy Units (Rap and Beatbox) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM

Sunday, February 14, 2010

- Cropper Welsh Roscoe Trio (UK) presents works from Haydn, Shostakovich and Beethoven in the Golden Hall of the Mohamed Ali Palace, 8:00 PM
- Chongquing Symphony Orchestra (China) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera, ouse, 8:00 PM
- "Violins for Valentine's day", works by Kreisler, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Paganini, Vitali, Wiesnawsky and Rachmaninov performed by violinists from Cairo Symphony Orchestra accompanied by David Hales (Piano) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Modern Dance Company directed by Walid Aouni presents “Women of Kasem Amin” at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Wagih Aziz (Oud) att El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Shafiq Koutry (Piano and voice) at El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Arab Institute, 8:00 PM
- The Nubian Drums Troupe led by Entesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian music) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- Habashi and the Jazz Caterers (contemporary Egyptian songs) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM

Monday, February 15, 2010

- Alexander Ivashkin (Russia/Cello) and Magda Nikolaidou (Greece/Piano) present "East Meets West", a chamber music recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Modern Dance Company directed by Walid Aouni presents “Women of Kasem Amin” at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Wust El Balad (Modern oriental and jazz fusion) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- The Riff Band (Valentine special) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Sohba Band (Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Tide of Septum (Rock) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

- Egyptian Modern Dance Company directed by Walid Aouni presents “Women of Kasem Amin” at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Double Bass Octet concert 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
- Gramophone Band (Arabic music) with Tunisian singer Noor El Marawany at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Crash Boom Bang (Funk, Dancefloor covers) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

- Egyptian Modern Dance Company directed by Walid Aouni presents “Women of Kasem Amin” at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Ghassan al-Yousif and Dina Abdel Hamid (oud) at the Malak Gabr Arts Theatre at AUC New Cairo Campus, 1:00 PM
- Reham Haggag (Clarinet) recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Andromida Band (Pink Floyd tribute) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Offbeat Band at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM

Thursday, February 18, 2010

- Cairo Opera Ballett Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present Aram Khatchaturian's “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Yehya Khalil (Oriental Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM
- DJ Quebrus (France) at the French Cultural Centre in Mounira, 10:00 PM
- Hosam Sakr Ensemble (Religious singing) at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Sahra (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM

Friday, February 19, 2010

- Cairo Opera Ballett Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, present Aram Khatchaturian's “Spartacus” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Hee Jung Ahn (Korea) piano recital with works by Mozart, Schumann and Chopin at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Rasha Yehya Ensemble in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Rock Soul Revival feat. Profile (Rock) at EL Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

NUBIAN MUSIC at the SAMAKHANA

Tomorrow Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 8:00 PM the Samakhana will host a concert by the famous Nubian singer Karam Mourad.
If you have never been to the Samakhana (Mawlawi Derwishes Theatre), this is a great opportunity to visit this wonderful site tucked down in an alley below the Citadel. For directions, you can follow the same given in the post about the Amir Taz Palace and continue for about 200 mts. in the same street.
This concert has been organized by the Embassy of Italy in cooperation with the UNESCO Cairo office and coincides with the opening, in the same site, of the exhibition "Abu Simbel: the salvaging of the Temples, man and technology" about the monumental work carried out to relocate the temple in order to save it from the waters of what was to become lake Nasser, following the construction of the Aswan dam.

Address: 31, Al-Syoufiya St., Al-Khalifa district


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

"The new sound of radio"

I wrote more than one year ago about "The Sound of Sakia", the online radio set up by the people of El Sawi. Now an article has appeared on Al-Masry Al-Youm about the spread of online radios from Egypt bringing to my attention the existance of other stations as well.
Click here to read the article.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Tunes of Change: Egyptian underground music scene

Egyypt Today published in its latest issue a very interesting article about music in Egypt.
Massar Egbari, Salalem, Nagham Masry and Princess Emanuelle are the artists on the spotlight but the article is a very interesting excursus on the "underground" scene in general.
You can read it from their online edition clicking here, but, as usual, I strongly recommend to buy the actual magazine on sale at the newstand. It does well deserve the 15 EGP!

Friday, February 5, 2010

DON'S REVIEW - Love and Conquest in Ancient Egypt, Aida at the Cairo Opera House

No question. If you are only going to see one opera – or one performance -- at the Cairo Opera House, Aida should be at the top of your list.

One of Giuseppe Verdi’s last operas, Aida premiered in Egypt, at the old Cairo Opera House in 1871 (which sadly burned down exactly 100 years later in 1971). Aida took the opera world by storm, and still remains one of the top 20 performed operas worldwide (number 16, to be precise).

Some of the Cairo Opera Orchestra productions are a bit lacklustre – their La Boheme last December was a bit pathetic – and so I was bit reluctant to see Aida.

But, Cairo pulls out all the stops with Aida, with a lavish set and costumes of which any opera company in the world would be proud. Perhaps M Haggag and his colleagues in costume design have their pick of the treasures from the Egyptian Museum right across the bridge from the Opera House.

The palaces, the temples, the tombs, the triumphal march in Act 2 are all stunning. Indeed, in an evening with Aida you get a magnificent “sound and light” display of ancient Egypt, but with beautifully lyric music and song, and a gripping story of love and conquest.

Don’t expect singing like at La Scala or the Met, but nonetheless -- except for a weak Radames the evening I went -- Cairo does a more than credible job, with standouts Iman Moustafa as Aida, and the Serbian Dragana del Monaco as princess Amneris, whom the slave-girl Aida serves.

Cairo Live Events will keep you posted on the timing of next year’s production of Aida

Thursday, February 4, 2010

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC February 6 - February 12

Saturday, February 6, 2010

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mina Zikri presents works from Beethoven and Mahler in the 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, February 7, 2010

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra's Chamber Music Ensemble presents works from Schubert, Mendelssohn and Brahms in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM 
 -The Nubian Drums Troupe led by Entesar Abdel-Fattah a the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian music) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- V.I.P. (Hip Hop and Break Dance) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Hossam Ezzeldin and friends (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM

Monday, February 8, 2010

- Complexions Contemporary Ballet (USA) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Wust El Balad (Modern oriental and jazz fusion) at the After8 Club, 10:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

- Complexions Contemporary Ballet (USA) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 6:00 and 9:30 PM
- Geroge Volkov (Viola) accompanied by David Hales (Piano) present works from Reger, Hindemith, Glinka and Schumann in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Qithara Ensemble (Arabic music) at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Nass Makan (Nubian music, Zikr and Sufi songs, Sudanese music and songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Cairokee (Arabic rock) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

- Complexions Contemporary Ballet (USA) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 6:00 and 9:30 PM
- Egyptian Philarmonic Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ahmed Al Saedi with soloist Chichiro Inda (Violin) presents music from Berg and Vivaldi in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Black Theama (Alternative Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 11, 2010

- Ramzy Yassa piano recital with music from Chopin in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Downtown Campus, 8:00 PM
- Complexions Contemporary Ballet (USA) in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 6:00 and 9:30 PM
- Mirette Hanna piano recital with works from Bach, Busoni, Beethoven, Chopin and Ravel in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Nesma Abdel Aziz Ensemble in the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Sahra (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Screwdriver (Rock'n'Roll) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM

Friday, February 12, 2010

- Omar Khairat 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 
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Ayamna El Helwa (Arabic music) at El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek, 8:30 PM

Monday, February 1, 2010

COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET in Cairo

The Complexions Contemporary Ballet company from the USA will be performing in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House on Monday, February 8 at 8:00 PM and on the 9, 10 and 11 at 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM. This is going to be one of the highlights of the ballet season in Cairo and though the ticket price is rather high (300 EGP for parterre seats), it is an occasion not to be missed for contemporary dance lovers.
To know more about Complexions, click here.