44th CAIRO INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

One of the big events of Cairo's cultural year is back. The 44th Cairo International Book Fair, the largest and oldest book fair in the Middle East, will kick off on Wednesday January 23, 2013 and run until  Tuesday February 5 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the International Fair Grounds in Nasr City. Lybia is going to be this year's Guest of Honor.

In addition to books perusal and purchase, and meetings with authors, visitors will be offered cultural activities such as readings, concerts, and movies. The programme is not yet on but hopefully will be soon. Click here to go directly to CIBF website in English where you shall be able in the near future to get all information about the fair. 

 

SAYED SAAD EL DIN at Al Kahila Art Gallery

Al Kahila Art Gallery has the pleasure to invite you to the opening of the art exhibition "Inspired visions" by the artist Sayed Saad El Din. Opening on Monday 14th of January, 2013 at 6:00 PM, the exhibition will continue till the 28th. Daily from 11:00 AM  to 9:00 PM except Fridays.

Born in 1944, he taught as professor of Fine Arts at the Higher Italian Institute Leonardo da Vinci and now he is a full time fine artist. He is a member of the Association of Fine Artists 58/127 and participated in many exhibitions in Italy, Spain, France and many Arab Countries. His works can be admired also in many important touristic areas in Egypt such as Luxor's New Bridge on the Nile.

The Italian Pianist MARCO TEZZA at the Manasterly Palace

A great opportunity to celebrate the re-opening of the magnificent Manasterly Palace!
On Sunday January 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM the Italian pianist MARCO TEZZA will give a recital with music from Debussy, Liszt and Satie.

For a biography of the artist and a full program of the evening, please click here.

NUBANOUR at El Dammah Theater

El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to enjoy a night with the Black Pearls NUBANOUR (click here to know more about the band) on Thursday January 10, 2012 at 9:00 PM at El Dammah Theater (formerly Al Tanbura Hall).

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP. Tickets by reservation 20 EGP (The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM).
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org.
For reservations: info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 243 66 241 / 011 50 99 5354  / 0223926768

Cairo Opera House Quartet

Some great chamber music to start the new year!
The Cairo Opera House Quartet, led by 1st violin Osman El Mahdy, will present their first concert of 2013 in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House on Monday January 14, and at Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theater) on January 15. Both performances start at 8:00 PM.
The program will include Beethoven's Quartet op. 18 No. 4, and Tchaikovsky's Quartet op.11.

DARB AL AHMAR ARTS SCHOOL

The following press release is addressed to the young people of the fascinating historic district of Darb Al Ahmar (one of my favourite strolling sites) in the area popularly referred to as Islamic Cairo.
I do not think they count among CLEG readers, but I still thought it worth to raise awareness about this great project among the wider public, not least because its students often perform at events featured in CLEG. Next time you see them you know where are they coming from :-).

To know more about Darb Al Ahmar Arts School, click here.

Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) invites children and young people of the Darb Al Ahmar district to apply to attend the Darb Al Ahmar Arts School during the open enrollment period from 13 -31 January 2013. Young Students will receive training in percussion, circus arts, or brass instruments for two years as well as classes in English, computer skills, social skills and physical theater. The school offers a monthly stipend, free trips to attend musical and artistic performances, international cultural exchanges, special training workshops, and the opportunity for the most talented students to perform at events on a regular basis.

The Darb Al Ahmar Arts School, a project of Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy) in cooperation with Agha Khan Trust for Culture and with the support of the Al Fanar foundation, was launched in 2010 for the purpose of educating children and youth of Al Darb Al Ahmar district in artistic disciplines (circus arts, brass and percussion). The school aims to create future employment opportunities for these young people as performing artists, and to raise the awareness of the residents of Darb Al-Ahmar of the value of art and its economic role in community development. The school was launched officially in March 2011 and include about 100 students in the three sections; percussion, brass and circus arts.

WELCOME TO 2013 ... and CAIRO JAZZ CLUB in January

Welcome to 2013 from CLEG!
Hope this year will bring lot of good news and opportunities for Cairo's artists and art lovers. It is always good to remember that by going to a performance you will not only have a couple of good, entertaining hours but you will also support the artists and enhance your understanding of local culture. No matter if you end up eventually liking it or not, time spent at an art event is never wasted. That's my thinking!

Back to business now. We start the new year postings with a venue that has been around for a long time and constantly been both a great place to spend an evening in and also provided behind and on scene support to many local musicians. The Cairo Jazz Club January programme features the usual array of established bands plus a scattering of emerging ones. Just as an example, this coming Thursday January 10 the hilarious musical duo HIGH ON BODY FAT returns on stage at 8:00 PM performing their trademark comical songs, while on Sunday January 13 at 9:00 PM LOS COMPADRES will bring to Cairo some Hispanic heat with their rhythmic Cuban jazz arrangements.

For CJC full January calendar, click here.