The 32nd Arab Music Festival and Conference
Arab Music Institute
22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373
Thurs 17, 8.30pm: Maqam troupe from Palestine.
Fri 18, 8.30pm: Sayyed Darwish Heritage troupe, conducted by maestro Mohamed Sayyed Darwish, in a repertoire of songs by late legendary composer Sayyed Darwish.
Sun 20, 8.30pm: An evening of singing features singer Mohamed El-Tokhy.
Tues 22, 8.30pm: The Arab Music Heritage ensemble, conducted by maestro Farouk El-Bably features singer Ahmed Ibrahim, together with opera stars: Mohamed Shawki, Reem Hamdy, Mohie Salah, and Hannan El-Kholi.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
Fountain Theatre
Thurs 17, 8.30pm: A concert of the best of late composer Mohamed El-Mogui performed by violinist Mohamed Zaheer, singers: Farah El-Mogui, Ahmed Mohsen, Hannan Essam, and Hossam Hosny. Superstar opera singer Riham Abdel-Hakim in a concert, conducted by maestro Mohamed El-Mogui.
Fri 18, 8.30pm: Cello recital by Yehia Mahdy, oud recital by Hazem Shaheen, and violin recital by Said Kamal. A concert features pop star Tamer Ashour, conducted by maestro Said Kamal.
Sat 19, 8.30pm: Violin recital by Mahmoud Sorour, singers Inas Ezzeddin and Amira Ahmed. A concert features pop singer Ahmed Saad, conducted by maestro Mustafa Helmy.
Sun 20, 8.30pm: Pianist Omar Khairat, accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by maestro Nayier Nagui.
Tues 22, 8.30pm: Singers Haneen El-Shater and Iman Abdel-Ghany. A concert features mega star Hany Shaker, conducted by maestro Mustafa Helmy.
Wed 23, 10pm: The exceptionally talented artist Ahmed El-Hashemy (Emirates). Mega star Ali El-Haggar, accompanied by Hathor Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Ahmed Farag.
Thurs 24, 8.30pm: The closing ceremony of the festival features violinist Mustafa Dagher in a solo recital, oud recital by Islam El-Qasabgy, and singer Maye Farouk in a concert, conducted by maestro Tamer Faizy.
Main Hall
Mon 21, 8.30pm: A Omani night features guest of honor singer Latifa, together with a galaxy of Omani and Arab singers performing Omani songs, composed by Alsayyed Khaled Hamad Albosaidy in a concert, conducted by maestro Amir Abdel-Meguid.
Wed 23, 7pm: Rahet Aalek (you missed it) operetta by Sayyed Darwish, artistic vision by Mohamed Abdel-Qader, directed by Mahdy El-Sayyed.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre
12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707
Thurs 17, 8.30pm: A concert features singers: Israa Essam, Moamen Khalil, Mustafa El-Nagdy, and Nehad Fathy. Singer Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid and Syrian singer Batoul Bany, accompanied by the Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by maestro Ahmed Amer.
Fri 18, 8.30pm: A Yemeni night features super star singer Ahmed Fathi.
Sat 19, 8.30pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini (religious chanting) troupe, conducted by maestro Omar Farahat and featuring its members: Samah Abbass, Heba Adel, Taha Hussein among others, performs religious chants.
Sun 20, 8.30pm: Umm Kolthoum ensemble for Arab music and singing, conducted by maestro Mohamed Abdel-Sattar.
Mon 21, 8.30pm: Artist Mahmoud Darwish and his Konoz band.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106
Sat 19, 8.30pm: A concert features opera singers: Hend El-Nahas, Ahmed Essam, Sarah Zaki, Ashraf Walid, Yehia Abdel-Halim. Superstar singer Nadia Mustafa, accompanied by the National Arab Music ensemble, conducted by maestro Hazem El-Qasabgy.
Sun 20, 8.30pm: The Oriental Rhythms Ensemble features tabla player Said El-Artist.
Tues 22, 8.30pm: Singer Kenzy and singer Mohamed Mohsen.
Wed 23, 8.30pm: A concert features opera stars: Youmna Hassan, Mustafa Saad, Alaa Ayoub, and Yasser Said. A concert features superstar Ahmed Gamal, accompanied by Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing, conducted by maestro Alaa Abdel-Sallam.
The 12th Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF)
(17 October-10 November)
The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF), the largest international contemporary arts festival in the Arab region, is celebrating its 12th edition this year. Presented by 124 artists from 21 countries, the festival will present 26 diverse performances, including performing arts, new media arts, music, and special events. It will feature contemporary art performances, discussions, and visual art exhibitions characterized by creative ideas, technological innovation, and interactive experiences with the audience. Additionally, there will be nine workshops covering various fields. This year's festival will also include the "Cairo Calling" programme, hosting 13 directors and choreographers from the Arab region and Arab expatriates. Moreover, a training programme supported by the MBC Academy in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Wasla for Arts, will offer training for 10 emerging cultural managers in festival management.
Rawabet Art Space
5 Hussien El-Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Bassiouny St, from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown
Fri 18 and Sat 19, 8pm: Taste Me is an interactive dance performance that takes the audience on a trip down memory lane, directed by Mohand Qader, choreographed and performed by Mohand Qader and Moustafa Jimmy, with music by Walad Visuals by Mahmoud Tarek, and set design by Hamsa Mohamed Kamal, light design by Sayed Naggar (Egypt/France, English and Arabic with subtitles). Taste Me is performed by two dancer-cooks, it is an invitation to taste food and emotions, preferring some, liking others or none at all.
Greater Cairo Library
15 Mohamed Mazhar St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 2278
Mon 21 and Tues 22, 8pm: Dance Triple Bill: What Meets The Eye and The Extra Mile contemporary dance performance is choreographed by Danish choreographer, artistic director Lotte Sigh, performed by Erika Cucumazzo and José Antonio Luque, and costumes by Sandra M. Svendsen. Supported by the Embassy of Denmark in Egypt, originally created for the 2023 World Capital of Architecture, The Extra Mile explores the concept of “too much” through voluminous draperies and deep drama, sensuously and playfully investigated and unfolded. The spirit of going the extra mile and handling life's obstacles together is masterly executed physical virtuosity. What Meets The Eye was created for the extraordinary exhibition of Giacometti’s works at The National Gallery of Denmark in 2024. Inspired by Giacometti’s tall, slender figures with raw, organic surfaces, two dancers sculpt themselves into a riveting human visual experience.
Mon 21 and Tues 22, 8pm: Dance Triple Bill: Manger Les Mots (Eating the Words) is a contemporary dance performance, directed and performed by Nagham Salah Othman and Mounir Saeed (Sudan/ Egypt). The performance combines monologues, songs, dance and lighting to discuss various topics related to the theme of misunderstandings. It poses the question: How can we transform the misunderstandings we face in our lives and careers into a dance? As two individuals from different cultures and perspectives strive to communicate, they face a struggle that pushes them beyond words, uncovering a shared language of movement.
Beit Al-Seheimi
Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865
Every Sunday, 8pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments.
Every Friday, 8pm: “Alaragouz 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.
French Cultural Institute
Madrasset Al-Huquq Al Frinseya St, Mounira, Tel 02 2791 5800
Sat 19, 6pm: Lovers of culture, music and dance, come and enjoy the greatest classics of the Congolese rumba with Eureka Rafiki.
Thurs 24, 8pm: Creatrix is a poetic oeuvre born from the collaboration between dancer and visual artist Mona El-Husseini and her mother, Hala Farahat. Together, they explore how stories are shared, transmitted, and told through the body, weaving a link between generations. They question where they meet and where they part, seeking to make their common past resonate. This enchanting duo combines improvisation, gestural interpretation, abstraction of Egyptian Baladi dance and the art of storytelling.
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).
Makan
1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878
Every Tuesday, 8-10pm: Mawawil features vocalists Hend and Sara in a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band.
Every Wednesday, 8-10pm: 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
Thurs 17, 8pm: Traveling Birds concert presents two musical worlds meet together, join and agree on a multicultural musical interpretation.
The Spot mall, infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo
Thurs 17 and Thurs 24, 9pm: Karaoke night.
Wed 23, 9pm: Karaoke night.
El Sawy Culturewheel
End of 26th of July St, underneath the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448
River Hall
Fri 18, 8pm: Sufi chanting by Al-Hadra troupe.
Sat 19, 8pm: The Sinatras band performs the best of Frank Sinatra.
Wed 24, 8pm: Autostrad band.
Wisdom Hall
Thurs 17, 8pm: A stand-up comedy show by Konafa Comedy Night.
Fri 18, 8pm: A singing recital by Wael Nasr.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 17 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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