WEEKLY AGENDA - MUSIC JAN 31 - FEB 6

Saturday, January 31, 2009

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui inaugurates the “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Yehia Khalil Jazz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- El Dor El Awal in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek 8:00 PM

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

- Massar Egbari (Rock, Jazz, Blues, Oriental Music) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Nagham Masry (Contemporary Egyptian music) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

Sunday, February 1, 2009

- The Janacek Quartet (Slovakia) presents works from Janacek, Debussy and Dvorak in the Golden Hall of Prince Mohamed Palace in Manial 8:00 PM

- “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival”, Vocals and Instrumental Recitals and Chamber Music Concerts in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Amir Toni’s Al Mawlaweyya Al Masreyya at the Amir Taz Palace 7:30 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 7:00 PM

- Sherif Mustafa (Guitar) at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:00 PM

Monday, February 2, 2009

- “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival”, Vocals and Instrumental Recitals and Chamber Music Concerts in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

- “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival”, Vocals and Instrumental Recitals and Chamber Music Concerts in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Konouz Group & Mahmoud Darweesh present an Arabic music concert with old popular masterpieces at the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek 8:00 PM

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

- Screwdriver at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

- China Traditional Orchestra “Anhui” conducted by Xu Hong at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Sobhi Bidair recital “Love Songs”, with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui 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

- Ahmed Ali El Haggar in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Culutral Centre 8:00 PM

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

Thursday, February 5, 2009

- “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival”, Vocals and Instrumental Recitals and Chamber Music Concerts in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

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

- Debmaster (Electronic Hip Hop/France) in the Patio of the French Cultural Centre in Mounira 9:00 PM

- Kas w laz’ Group (Contemporary Egyptian songs) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek 8:00 PM

- Mostafa El Haj (Nubian Songs) at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:00 PM

- Yehya Khalil (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM

Friday, February 6, 2009

- “VII Arab Perspectives Music Festival”, Vocals and Instrumental Recitals and Chamber Music Concerts in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Omar Khairat (piano) in the Main Hall of Cairo opera House 8:00 PM

- Yorka Band (Abdel Moneim Saeed) play Andalousian Music in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

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

- Wust El Balad at the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek 8:30 PM

"SOUND OF SAKIA" INTERNET RADIO

Did you know that you can listen on your computer, without hassles, music from the local "underground" scene? And when I say "underground", I really mean it, as the radio has been set up by the people of El Sawi, the famous cultural centre under the bridge in Zamalek.

Go on their website or click directly here, select the speed of your link (it is appreciated if you fill the survey, but not mandatory) and listen to extracts from the many concerts that they have produced. It is a wonderful opportunity to listen to artists which you would not be able to hear otherwise. Maybe you will get some inspiration for your next evening out.

11th CAIRO BIENNALE

Yesterday I spent part of the day exploring a couple of sites of the Cairo Biennale. I know it is difficult to talk about "contemporary art", it is definitely not everybody's cup of tea, and, if you ask me, sometimes for very good reasons. But it would be silly to dismiss the whole category and entrench ourselves in the work of the Impressionists (that by the way, looked to many of their contemporaries as pretty awful!). I suggest therefore, if you have the time, that you pay a visit to at least one of the venues that will host the Biennale until February 20.

Inside the El Gezira Art Center, the same building hosting the beautiful Ceramic Museum (there you go, two birds with one stone) just beside the back entrance of the Marriot in Zamalek, you have three rooms of works, mostly from Arab countries. One of the room is devoted to the Spanish Private Rendering with interesting video installations (I liked very much the one of Eugenia Funes). They are opened 10:00AM-1:00PM and 5:00PM to 8:00PM. Entrance is free (to the Biennale, you have to pay a ticket for the Ceramic Museum).

The place where you'll find a lot of works of the Biennale is in the grounds of the Cairo Opera House, still in Zamalek. I arrived too late to enter the Art's Palace (they seem to close at 1:00PM) and could enjoy only the two installations just in front of its entrance (The Sun Engine and Borg El-Amal). But walking back towards the parking I spotted some stalls just immediately on your right side after the car parking entrance. They do not seem to stop for the breack here and host some interesting videos and static installations. Entrance is free.

WEEKLY AGENDA - MUSIC JAN 24 - JAN 30

Saturday, January 24, 2009

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Taha Nagui with soloists Tamer Kamal (Bassoon) and Hibiki Tamura (Piano) present music from Ponchielli, Rossini, Mozart and Nagui in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- 1^st Sakia Electronic Music Festival with DJ Wael Alaa, Bikya, Digital Counter, DJ Haze in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- CONCERT FOR GAZA, with Hala, Massar Igbari, Ana Masri and Tamiie at The Factory 10, Al-Nabrawi St., Downtown

- Bashir at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

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

- Yorka Band (Andalusian Music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

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

Sunday, January 25, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- 1^St Sakia Electronic Music Festival with Mahmoud Refat, Machine Eat Man “Mohammed Regab”, Fathy Salama, Hassan Khan, DJ Feedo in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- El Jerken (Jerry Can) Bedouin Band in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- CONCERT FOR GAZA, with Flamenca, Baraka, Wust El Balad and Fatma Adel at The Factory 10, Al-Nabrawi St., Downtown

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

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

Monday, January 26, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Chamber Music with Mahmoud Osman in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Wust El Balad at After 8 10:00 PM

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main 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

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

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Fathy Salama's new project “Luxor Breakbeats” in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

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

- Ali El Haggar (Arabic music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

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

Thursday, January 29, 2009

- Recital by Hassan Sharara (Violin) and Emad Hamdy (Guitar) in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Salah Ghobashi in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- The Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Ahmed El Saedi presents work by Mendellsohn Bartholdy at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:00 PM

- Machine Eat Man by Mohamed Ragab (Electro, Indie, Rock) at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts 8:00 PM

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

- HIP HOP 3x1 with Weghat Nazar, Asfalt and El Zero in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Omar Khayrat (Piano) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

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

- Recital by Elhamy Kourshid (Guitar) at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

Friday, January 30, 2009

- AION Quintet (CH/World Jazz) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 6:00 PM

- Nesma Abdel Aziz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Oud Recital by Farid El Bably at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Baraka Band at the Rawabet Space for Performing Arts

- Skindeep at After 8 10:00 PM

- Qithara Ensemble conducted by Alfred Gamil at the Arab Music Institute 10 Aisha el-Taimouriah St. Garden City

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR 2009

From today, Thursday January 22 to Thursday February 5, 2009 the Cairo Fair Grounds in Salah Salem Street in Heliopolis will host the 41st Cairo International Book Fair.
Guest of Honour this year is the United Kingdom who will bring to Cairo as speakers writers Ahdaf Soueif, Ben Okri, Meg Rosoff, Anthony Horowitz and David Almond among others.

For the complete list of speakers, biographies, links and programs, follow this link to the British Council website page dedicated to the Fair. If you read Arabic click here for the website of the CIBF.

JAZZ CONCERT at the LOFT GALLERY

Just in! Tonight Wednesday, January 21 at 8:30 PM the LOFT Gallery will present a jazz, soul and pop evening with the Egyptian singer Ahmed Harfoush (Riff Band) and the Swiss double-bass player Marc Jenny. Free entry

Loft Gallery - 12, Sayed El-Bakri St., Zamalek

FRENCH INSTITUTE (former FRENCH CULTURAL CENTRE -CFCC) in MOUNIRA

The French Cultural Centre in Mounira, in addition to its educational activities, is very active hosting concerts, theatre performances and film screenings. Its Auditorium is very well done, with comfortable seating and good visibility from all rows of seats due to its steep inclination.
When the weather allows it (read: pretty often) events are held outdoors, in the patio of the Centre, where a friendly cafè-restaurant operates daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (closed on Friday).

The only slight problem is that it is, so to say, a bit off the beaten track. If you have a driver or take a taxi, just scroll down to the address. But if you are a Metro person (all my symphaty) you might find it a bit difficult to find the place. Try with this directions: take the Metro line Helwan-El Marg until the Seyyeda Zeinab station. Take the right (west) exit and walk up north on the narrow road bordering the Metro line wall (on your right) until you find the first coffee shop at a corner on you left. Turn into this road and walk until you reach the next main road (again easily identifiable because of coffee shops on both corners). Turn right and walk until you see on your right a large handsome colonial style building with a large garden. This is the IFA (French Archeological Institute). Turn right again at the first corner and at the end of the street on the right side you'll find the entrance of the CFCC. The walk takes about 15 min. If you find yourself in doubt or lost ask any coffe shop client or shopkeeper for the "Markaz al-Thaqafi al-Faransi". Everybody seems to know and with the ever useful sign language they will kindly direct you on the right way.
Another option, more convenient if you come from the North of the city, is to get off at Saad Zaghloul Station and walk south on Al Falaki Street. Haven't tried yet this option but judging from the new map on CFCC leaflets it seems quite easy to find the Centre. If in doubt, just ask. 


Centre Francaise de Culture et de Coopération: 1 Madrasset el-Huquq El-Frenseya, Mounira
Tel.: 02-27915809
Website: http://www.ambafrance-eg.org/cfcc/index.php3

7ème Festival des Jeunes Créatures

For all theater lovers! This evening Sunday, January 18 at 7:30 Pm started (sic!) the 7th Festival for Young Creative Artists at the French Cultural Centre in Mounira. It will run until Saturday, January 24.
The festival, dedicated this year to the theater art form will bring to the Auditorium of CFCC six different local groups that will compete for a prize awarded by a jury of experts which include the French actor Charles Gonzales.
All shows start at 7:30 PM. Saturday 24th will be presented again the winning play.
For full program of the festival and a presentation of the plays, click here (in French language)

PS: I am sorry for having posted late for the first show, but I was very busy today.

WEEKLY AGENDA - MUSIC Jan 17 - Jan 23, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Taha Nagui with soloists Sobhi Bidair (Tenor) and the A Capella Choir directed by Maya Gvineira present an evening of famous love songs in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- El Dor El Awal at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

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

Sunday, January 18, 2009

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

- Nomads Intercontinental (Wold Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

- Bashir at After 8 10:00 PM

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

- Georges Kazazian Oud Recital in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab at the Arab Music Institute (22 Ramsis Street - Downtown)

Monday, January 19, 2009

- Yasser El Serafy Violin Recital accompanied by Elena Dzamashvili (Piano) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

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

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

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

- The Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Ahmed El-Saedi with pianist Mohamed Shamseddin present works from Mendellsohn, Mozart and Haydn 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

- Screwdriver at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM

- Haitham Mahfouz (Oud) in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

- 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, January 22, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Omnia Ezzeldin & Louba Hammad Piano Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- I Fagiolini (GB/Early Music) in the United Kingdom’s Hall at the International Book Fair - Exhibition Grounds Nasr City (time tba)

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

- United Nile Reggae (Reggae and Hip Hop Fusion) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:30 PM

- Al Zekr Troupe for Religious Songs at Beit al-Soheimi 7:00 PM

- Basata Band in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

Friday, January 23, 2009

- Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nader Abbassi and the Cairo Opera Group present Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Abdel Moneim Kamel in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Rasha Yehia Violin Recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Screwdriver in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Samaa’a Troupe for Sufi and Religious Singing at the Qubbet El-Ghouri 8:00 PM

MOHAMED ABOU ZEKRI "CARTE BLANCHE"

The Naseer Shamma student and young Oud sensation Mohamed Abou Zekri, who became at 15 the youngest professor of Oud in the Arab world is performing tomorrow, Thursday January 15, 2009 at the French Cultural Centre in Mounira at 8:00 PM.
He will present a program of songs from the traditional classic Egyptian repertoire along with his own compositions with blues and jazz influences. For the occasion he will be accompanied by a guitarist and a percussionist.
For full details (in French), click here

EAST WESTERN DIWAN ORCHESTRA PART III

In all fairness, it was not a joke!
The concert was really due to take place in Cairo and it has been cancelled for security concerns. If you want to read the whole story, click here.

Baremboim said "We hope to reschedule".
We hope as well!

Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra (Mexico)

The Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra from Mexico, under the baton of Enrique Batiz will perform tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13 2009 at 8:00 PM in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House. The program is as follows:

1.- Obertura Las Hébridas, Op. 26 MENDELSSOHN
2.- Sinfonía no. 7 en re menor, Op. 70 DVORAK
3.- Chacona en mi menor BUXTEHUDE -C.CHÁVEZ
4.- Sinfonía no. 2 "India" CARLOS CHÁVEZ
5.- Fandangos ROBERTO SIERRA
6.- Huapango JOSÉ PABLO MONCAYO

In the traditional and history of the arts in Mexico, the University of Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra (OSUG), founded in 1952, holds - half a century after its conception - a privileged position as a result of its musical excellence. It has shown itself to be one of the most established and important symphonies in Mexico. Recently, the OSUG, under the direction of conductor Jose Luis Castillo, has been recognized by the Mexican and international press, and has been enthusiastically received by the public. The orchestra has significantly increased its repertoire, demonstrating a special interest in twentieth century composition, as well as in many international pieces that had not been previously performed in Mexico. During the last several years, the orchestra has been working on the development of its own unique sound, its eyes set on achieving the highest levels of interpretative competence. Together with this endeavor, an intense project of promoting classical music in underway.

Since its founding, important soloists and conductors, both Mexican and foreign, have graced the symphony's concert series. Eduardo Mata, Enrique Batiz, Enrique Diemecke, Kurth Pahlen, Claude Heiffer, Thomas Indermuhle, Trio Altenberg, Cristian Lindberg, Jorge Federico Osorio, Gerhart Muench, Fernando de la Mora, Ramon Vargas, Veronica Villarroel, among othes. In its regular concerts, as well as in its participation as resident symphony in the International Cervantino Festival and as invited orchestra in other festivals, the OSUG Symphony has performed and impressive number of national, continental and world premieres.
(Article taken from the website of the town of Guanajuato)

EAST WESTERN DIWAN ORCHESTRA PART II

I checked directly with the Cairo Opera House and, sadly, they confirmed that there will be no concert of the East Western Diwan Orchestra tomorrow. I was not able to get more information on the subject; no concerts are scheduled for tomorrow in the Main Hall. Full stop!

Goodnight.

EAST WESTERN DIWAN ORCHESTRA in CAIRO?

Welcome to 2009; C.L.E.G. is back!
From -13 C to the wonderful + 20 C of Cairo in few hours. What a change! It will take some time to thaw and sift through the bulk of papers and mails accumulated during the holidays but the Weekly Agenda will be ready for Friday at the latest. In the meantime I will post what I consider to be the highlights of the next few days, and I start ... with a BANG!

The celebrated East Western Diwan Orchestra, the brainchild of Daniel Baremboim and the late Edward Said performing in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House tomorrow, Tuesday January 12, conducted by Baremboim himself?

Well, it sounds too good to be true, and probably, sadly, it isn't. News about this concert have appeared in a pair of websites and on the English edition of Al-Ahram Weekly, but most other sources feature for the same day a concert by the Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra from Mexico.
You would expect to solve the riddle consulting the website of the Opera House, but, while the concert of the Guanajuato Orchestra is rescheduled to Wednesday, there is no mention of any activity at the Main Hall on Tuesday.
Has the concert been cancelled (in view of recent events in Palestine, it would not be surprising)? Would it be an invitation-only private performance? Is it just a problem of communication?
I will try to sort it out and post the outcome as soon as I get it.

In the meantime, let's keep on dreaming.