El-Leila El-Kebira (The Grand Night), one of the most important musical works of the Arab world, was performed at the Cairo Opera House beween 4 and 6 May.

With music by Sayed Mekkawy and poetry by Salah Jahin, El-Leila El-Kebira saw many adaptations — the best known being the puppet theatre show.

The Cairo Opera Ballet Company performed a version created by Abdel Moneim Kamel in 2001, in which puppets turn into live dancers.

One of the standard repertoire elements, El-Leila El-Kebira is usually paired with another short work danced by the company. This time the second performance of the evening was the ballet Oriental Steps, based on Attiya Sharara's second violin concerto.

(Photos: Bassam Al-Zoghby)