The 31th Arab Music Festival and Conference
Arab Music Institute
22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373
Thurs 20, 8pm: The opening ceremony presents The Arab Music Heritage ensemble, conducted by maestro Farouk El-Bably, featurting singers: Ahmed Mohsen, Angham Mustafa, Mohamed Shawqi, Ahmed El-Wazery, and Syrian singer Waad Al-Bahary.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
Fountain Theatre
Thurs 20, 8pm: The opening ceremony celebrates the anniversary of late musician Ali Ismail in a concert features singers: Walid Heidar, Ahmed Effat, Amira Ahmed, Ghada Adam, Mohamed Hassan, Hannan Essam, Noha Hafez, accompanied by a dance show performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, choreographed by Erminia Kamel.
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106
Thurs 20, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by maestro Ahmed Amer, features singers: Kenzy, Mustafa El-Nagdy, Rehab Omar. The concert features superstar Medhat Saleh, accompanied by pianist Amr Selim.
Arab Music Institute
22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373
Fri 14, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs Abdel-Wahab songs.
Sun 16, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab songs.
Beit Al-Seheimi
Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865
Every Sunday, 7pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, conducted by Abdel-Rahman Al-Shafaai, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments.
Every Friday, 7pm: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
Main Hall
Thurs 13 and Fri 14, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra perform Romeo and Juliet ballet.
Sat 15, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Small Hall
Thurs 13 and Fri 14, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company performs excerpts from international operas.
Mon 17, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert.
Wed 19, 8pm: Jazz concert by Yehia Khalil and his band.
Cinema Radio
24 Talaat Harb, Marouf, Qasr El Nil, Cairo, Tel 0 110 029 9161
Fri 14 and Sat 15, 1 to 2pm, 3 to 4pm, 5 to 6pm: Mandala interactive performance (Hungary), directed by Dávid Somló.
Somlo’s performance piece, Mandala, draws on this spiritual practice to pose the question: how might we exist and interact with each other when there is nothing left to do but walk? Part immersive sound composition, part intimate choreography, and part group meditation, the piece guides audience members back and forth between active and passive states of being. Through this participatory approach, Somlo’s work playfully interrogates the social interactions, relationships, and structures of a temporary community of audience members.
Mandala is Somlo’s most performed piece and will make its Arab World premiere as part of this year’s edition of D-CAF. Mandala is the Sanskrit word for circle. In Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, the circular geometric figure represents the universe in all its vastness and mystery, and is sometimes used as a spiritual tool to establish sacred spaces, aid meditation, and induce transcendentality. Language: English with Arabic translation, Duration: 60 minutes.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary
Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475
Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music
(Performances every Sat and Wed, 7.30pm).
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre
12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707
Thurs 13, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble.
Fri 14, 8pm: Al-Hadra troupe for Sufi chanting.
Italian Cultural Institute
3 El-Sheikh El Marsafy St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 5423/2735 8791
Thurs 13, 7pm: On the occasion of the 18th edition of the Contemporary Art Day, Basket of Flowers performance by NUT Dance Company which will transform the premises of the IIC into a live interactive museum; an event promoted by AMACI - Association of Italian Contemporary Art Museums and realized with the support of the General Direction for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture, and the collaboration of the General Direction for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Makan
1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878
a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band.
Every Wednesday, 9-10pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah.
Room Art Space & Café
10 Etihad Al Mohamin, Garden City, Tel 01000 068 159
Fri 14, 9pm: Mohammed Antar performs a variety of his music. The concert starts with a solo performance by Antar followed by a number of musical pieces and a Maqam Fantasy accompanied by Shadi Ibrahim on oud.
Sat 15, 9pm: Join an amazing, fun night full of your favorite ABBA songs.
Thurs 20, 8pm: Coming from various musical backgrounds, from playing guitar in numerous bands, to joining a number of ensemble groups, Mohab Kaddah eventually specialized in performing arts, especially musical theatre performances. The idea behind “Stories” is to share personal stories as well as common experiences we share in our lives, giving context to each song performed in the show. It’s an interactive and inclusive experience combining speech with music.
The Spot mall, Infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo
Thurs 13 and Tues 18, 9pm: A Karaoke Night.
Sat 15, 7.30pm: A stand-up comedy by Comedy Monsters.
Mon 17, 9pm: Strawberry Swing is the first acknowledged Coldplay tribute band in the middle east. Band members: Abdel-Rahman Sherif (Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar, and Lead Vocal), Mohamed Tarek (Lead Guitar, Keyboard, and Back Vocal), and Patrick Khalil (Drums and Back Vocal).
Tues 18, 9pm: EL Nafikha brass band.
Wed 19 and Thurs 20, 8pm: A Karaoke Night.
El-Sawy Culturewheel
End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448
(No entry without a mask and the hall will be open at only 25 percent audience capacity)
River Hall
Thurs 13, 8pm: Tablet El Set band.
Fri 14, 8pm: The Egyptian pink Floyd tribute project Andromida.
Sat 15, 7.30pm: Hawas band will give a live concert performing progressive music and the lyrics revolving around the suffering of the human being.
Mon 17, 7pm: Rouh Project concert.
Tues 18, 7.30pm: A rock night.
Wed 19, 6pm: Nile University band for the first time in El-Sawy Culturewheel.
Thurs 20, 8pm: A singing recital by Ahmed Salem.
Fri 21, 7pm: Alaa Wardi and Hayajan band for the first time in Egypt.
Wisdom Hall
Thurs 13, 8pm: Singing recital by Ali El-Helbawy.
ZED Park
El-Sheikh Zayed, 6th of October
Fri 14, 6pm: Shuffle Music Festival by Ora is Egypt’s first multi-genre music festivals to date. You will have your favourite artists performing your top playlist picks from rap to pop to underground music on shuffle.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106
Thurs 13, 8pm: Drums night features Ahmed Rabie.
Tues 18, 8pm: The Alexandria Talents Development Centre concert.
Wed 19, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Strings Orchestra concert.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999
Main Hall
Thurs 20, 8pm (open to the public): Alaa Wardi and Hayajan band give a concert for the first time in Egypt.
Small Hall
Thurs 13, 8pm (open to the public): Halet Oud band features oud player Michele Onsi.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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