BAD APPLE

Rock in Egypt? I am by disposition very open toward different music styles but I have to admit that I sort of neglected the local rock music scene until I heard these five young musicians. And what a discovery it was! Despite being a relatively young band, they are gradually steering away from cover works (that seems to be a widely popular way of making music here. But why? I am sure there is enough creativity out there!) and make a very good job writing their own original songs. They also set up an entertaining live show in which they are often accompanied by guest musicians.
Their professionalism is further underscored by their creation of a nice website where you can find plenty of information and listen to some of their songs.
Good job, Bad Apple, keep it on!

Bad Apple will perform Saturday, October 17 at 8:30 PM in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre

"SAMSARA" - Correction

Tonight's performance of the Victor Ullate's Company Ballet "Samsara" is due to begin at 9:00 PM and not 8:00 as written in the Agenda. Thursday and Friday performances will begin at 8:00 PM.

VICTOR ULLATE BALLET

One of the season highlights is without doubt the performance of the famous Victor Ullate Ballet from Spain. Former principal of Maurice Bejar’s Ballet and of the Ballet Nacional de Espana, in 1983 Ullate started coreographing and founded his own school and ballet company, Ballet de Victor Ullate. Their repertoire includes works by Balanchine, van Manen, Nils Christe, Jan Linkens, and Micha van Hoecke, as well as contemporary ballets by Ullate himself. Ullate has formed and trained some of today's most famous ballet dancers.

Victor Ullate's work “Samsara”, merging influences from Egypt, Iran and the Far East with Ullate's own traditions of classical ballet and contemporary dance, will be presented for the first time in Egypt in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House from Wednesday, October 15 to Friday, October 17.

To know more about the work (in Spanish), go to http://www.victorullateballet.com/index.php?lang=es&ids=298

To look at a preview of the performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-EcfvqSVc

20th Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre

The 20th Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre has opened on October 10th with the performance of the Italian Mistral Company for Modern Dance in the Cairo Opera House.
The 64 troupes from all over the world who participate in the festival will present over 70 works in the span of 10 days in several venues across the city. Workshop and conferences with artists and experts will take place for the duration of the festival. A big thing. And one served, quite remarkably, by a good website where you can find the performance schedule, a daily bulletin and brief information about the groups and works.

Sadly, I am not very much into this art form and am definitely not in a position to offer advice, but I think that an endeavor as such should be encouraged and I will do my best to attend one or more performances. You might not know all the venues where the performances take place (as I do not), but you will surely know the Cairo Opera House and the Ghomouria Theatre (if not, follow the link), so, give a look at the schedule and you might find something worth giving a try.
I heard, for instance, that tonight performance by the Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company "The Virgin Butterfly Story" (or "The Tale of the Deadly Butterfly" according to the official website), is very interesting. They will be performing at the Arabic Music Institute 22, Ramses St. at 8:00 PM

EL DOR EL AWAL

Oriental Jazz and Fusion is a broad term that is commonly used for music performed by indigenous group that are incorporating western jazz, new age and electronic language into their own musical traditions. The results are often interesting and original, if a bit bizarre for the average western ear.

El Dor El Awal, with their blend of saxophone, flute and violin on a bed of oriental style beating percussions are, along with Eftekasat and Wust el Balad, the best examples of this musical genre Cairo has presently to offer. The band, renowned for its good stage act, has a good following and published a CD titled “Qarar Izala” for the Incognito label.

For more info and to listen to some of their pieces in streaming go to:

http://www.myspace.com/eldorelawal

http://www.incognito.com.lb/store/node/45

Articles about the band:

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/late-night-session-el-dor-el-awal

AGENDA MUSIC October 11-October 17

Another interesting week for people who are into ballet and dance with the performances of the Victor Ullate Ballet from Spain and of the Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company. On the music side, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra will present the second concert of the season with their new Italian director Marcello Mottadelli, plus concerts from the local darlings El Dor El Awal and Ana Masry.

Saturday, October 11, 2008
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marcello Mottadelli and accompanied by pianists Mohamed Shams and Wael Farouk present works from Rageh Dawoud, Poulenc and Brahms in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Baraka Band (Arab Traditional music) at the Rawabet Theatre 8:00 PM
- Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes at the Ghouri Caravansaray 9:00 PM
- Beshir (Modern Egyptian Folk) at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

Sunday, October 12, 2008
- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company present “The Virgin Butterfly Story” (choreography by Walid Aouni) at the Arabic Music Institute 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

Monday, October 13, 2008
- El Dor El Awal at After 8 10:00 PM
- Cairo Opera Orchestra with Omar Khairat (piano) in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company present “The Virgin Butterfly Story” (choreography by Walid Aouni) at the Arabic Music Institute 8:00 PM

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
- Arab Music Heritage Ensemble conducted by Farouk El-Babli (Classical Arab songs) at the Arabic Music Institute 8:00 PM
- Mezmar Baladi Troupe led by Sayyed El-Husseini (Egyptian Folklore) at the El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM
- Ana Masry (Arabic modern music) in the Wisdom Hall of the El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
- Victor Ullate Ballet (Spain) present “SAMSARA” in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Omar Khairat Piano Recital in the Wisdom Hall of the El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM
- Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Unfold and Invaders in concert (Rock music) in the River Hall of the El-SAwi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

Thursday, October 16, 2008
- Victor Ullate Ballet (Spain) present “SAMSARA” in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Friday, October 17, 2008
- Victor Ullate Ballet (Spain) present “SAMSARA” in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab at the Arab Music Institute
- Bad Apple Band in concert (Rock music) in the River Hall of the El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM
- Mustafa Said with Aseel Band at the Geneina Theatre in the Al-Azhar Park 8:00 PM

AGENDA MUSIC October 7- October 10

Welcome back! Hope you had a relaxing holiday.
Cairo Live Events Guide is back with a shortened version of its weekly agenda. Short but very interesting! From the Swiss DRIFT Company modern dance play "Unbreakable", to the last days of the Dance Opera "Odysseus", to the Opening Night of the International Festival of Experimental Theatre with an Italian group, these first post-Eid evenings are going to be all but dull.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

- Cairo Opera Ballet Company with the Opera Singers and Choir present “Odysseus” in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

- André Sigone (Double Bass) and his Be-Bop inspired Jazz Trio at the Heliopolis French Cultural Centre 5, Shafik el-Dib St., Ard el-Golf 7:00 PM

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

- Kayan Band (Rock music) in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes at the Ghouri Caravansaray 9:00 PM

- Cairo Opera Ballet Company with the Opera Singers and Choir present “Odysseus” in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Thursday, October 9, 2008

- Drift Company (Switzerland) present “Unbreakable” at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- United Nile Band (Reggae music) in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Yehia Khalil at the Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26^th July St., Agouza 10:30 PM

Friday, October 10, 2008

- Akram El-Sharkawi band (Oriental and Contemporary Jazz) in the Wisdom Hall of the El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Drift Company (Switzerland) present “Unbreakable” at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Brain Candy (Rock music) in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- International Festival for Experimental Theatre Opening Night – The Modern Dance Company Mistral presents “Il racconto di Antigone – Antigone`s Tale” in Italian language with English subtitles in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM