Not all those that wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien, novelist and philologist (1892-1973)
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.
There has been a bit of confusion regarding tomorrow's concert. I was a bit puzzled when I did not find it on the International Music Centre website but received definite confirmation that the concert was indeed going to take place. What I was not informed about is the fact that it is a charity event (and therefore not an IMC event) and that the ticket seem to be priced at 350 EGP.
In order to avoid surprises about availability of tickets on the evening and price of the same, you can call the following number for more information: 012 7731814
Saturday, November 7, 2009
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui with soloist Ignes Abdel Daim (Flute) present “A Latin American Night” with works by Moncayo, Piazzolla, Ginastera and Revueltas at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- 18th Festival of Arab Music in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- 18th Festival of Arab Music in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Tony Kaldas (Contemporary Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Nagham Masry (Modern Egyptian folk) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
Sunday, November 8, 2009
- 18th Festival of Arab Music in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- 18th Festival of Arab Music in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- El Nil Troupe for Folk Instruments at Beit El Suheimi, 8:30 PM
- The Blue Tone Quartet (Standard jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Bisheer (Nubian music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- El Sakia Choir with Hossam Samir at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
Monday, November 9, 2009
- Ramzi Yassa Piano Recital with works from Beethoven, Mozart, Saint Saëns, Bach, Chopin and Liszt in the Golden Hall of Mohamed Ali Palace, 7:30 PM
- El Mahatta (Contemporary Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ’s Awadi Bros (House music) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Wust El Balad at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- David Pavlovits Guitar Recital (Hungary) in the Oriental Hall of AUC Tahrir Campus, 8:00 PM
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
- Nass Makan at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- Dima Band (Egyptian modern music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Screwdriver (Rock’n ‘Roll) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
- Mazaher Ensemble (Zar music) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Off Beat Band at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Emam Hamdy Guitar Recital in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Tahrir Campus, 8:00 PM
Thursday, November 12, 2009
- Marwa Samy’s Ishrakat Musical Troupe present “Musical Fusions” at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Gemiza Band (Contemporary Egyptian music) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- The Riff Band (Vocal jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 10:30 PM
- Sahra Band (Rai music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
- Nass Makan meets Norwegian musicians Nils Aukland (Fiddles), Rolf E. Nystrom (Sax) and Per O. Johansen (Drums) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
Friday, November 13, 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
- Payam Band & Babak Maddah (Netherlands/Jazz and Persian arranged songs) at the Geneina Theatre in Al-Azhar Park, 8:00 PM
- Konouz Ensemble for Arab Music – Mahmoud Darwish at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- The Riff Band at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Salalem (Arabic music) at the After8 Pub, 10:00 PM
I was holding this post for the fatidic moment in which the program of the Festival would magically appear on the Festival's website but friends eventually convinced me of the utility to send out a warning that the Festival is approaching.
Well, it is approaching indeed as it is scheduled to take place from November 10 to November 20, 2009, but at time of posting the official program has not appeared yet. If I well recall, last year it was posted one day after the festival actually started. I am still hoping for a little improvement this year; what about a day before? It's not asking for much, I think.
In case I get distracted by other things, here is the link to the Film Festival website, so you can check for yourself if the program comes out. Drop me a mail if you spot it before I do.
On Thursday November 5, 2009 at 6:30 PM, the wonderful Oriental Hall of AUC Tahrir Campus will host the screening of "Umbrella", a documentary film about the effects of industrialization in China. This is going to be the last event of the 2009 Margaret Mead Traveling Film and Video Festival.
Free entry.
"Where are you?" a group exhibition with participants of the Artist-in-Residence exchange programme initiated by the Cairo liaison office of Pro Helvetia, Swiss Art Council, started yesterday, Sunday November 1 and will run till Sunday, November 22, 2009.
The exhibition takes place at the Townhouse Gallery and features 14 artists from Switzerland, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.
The event will be closed by a musical live performance with Ahmad El-Sawi (Oud, voice, electronics, composition) and video-projection by Christoph Oertli on Sunday, November 22 at 8:00 PM at the Rawabet Theatre.
For a description of the event and introduction of works, click here.
The Italian Student Association at AUC is back again with a new season of entertaining cooking classes. Tuesday November 3 at 7:00 PM at Tabasco, in the new AUC campus, the writer Vincenzo Mattei will "show and tell" all you need to know to prepare a perfect Pasta with Shrimps and Zucchini.
Places are limited, entertainment guaranteed. To reserve a seat, send an e-mail to itaca.auc@google.com
If you happen to live in Cairo, like music and admire the late Edward Said, you will love this excellent article from an Al-Ahram Weekly of 2005, featuring an interview with Selim Sednaoui who remembers his friend.
I stumbled on it by accident and could not take my eyes off the screen till I reached the end (and it is long!).
Excellent stuff and a perfect reading to remember this great man of culture on the very day of what would have been his 74th birthday.
