Brazilian Viola player vinicius Diniz
In an exclusive interview with Ahram Online, Diniz described the GEM opening ceremony as a world-class cultural project demanding a world-class ceremony, a performance he called "beyond imagination."
Few were better positioned to appreciate the blend of history and spectacle.
In his first-ever visit to Egypt, Diniz was not only moved by the performance but by the country itself, noting a familiar "warmth of people" that reminded him of Brazil. For Diniz, the new museum is more than just a tourist attraction; it is a profound message of peace that showcases humanity’s ancient foundations.
He believes that by preserving and showcasing this history with such refinement, Egypt is honouring the past while confidently building a future, a monumental effort that the musician believes the Egyptian people "should be proud" to witness.
AO: How were you selected for such a performance?
VD: The person who called me for this project was Mohamed. He’s a trombone player based in Berlin. We had met and played together many times, and then he was asked to find a few musicians for this project.
AO: How did you see the GEM performance and the opening ceremony?
VD: Amazing. I have never taken part in anything like that. It was beyond imagination; it was so nice. The drones and the music were very evocative. I felt like I was taking part in a kind of history portal. It was a very special moment.
AO: How will the Grand Egyptian Museum benefit the Egyptian tourism traffic?
VD: Of course, it will improve, bring much more. Everything is so refined, so beautiful. I felt so well-being inside the museum, it's just uplifting. You are surrounded by all those architectures, sculptures from thousands of years ago. I feel like I was there in the past. That's amazing.
AO: Our President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in his remarks at the opening of the GEM, focused on peace and the museum’s mission to promote peace. How do you see that message?
VD: Egypt is the foundation of the birth of all humanity, a kind of civilization like Babylon, and way before, but to preserve and showcase all of that, it's a message of peace. Come on, let's look at what we have here, what our ancestors did and built, and let's build a future looking upon these values that originate from all these projects.
AO: As it is your first visit to Egypt, how did you see Cairo? What is your message to the Egyptian people?
VD: First visit, I loved Egypt. It reminds me a lot of Brazil, in certain aspects. The warmth of people, everybody is so kind, so proactive in helping. Also, culturally, I went to this church in the Coptic area, and it was so beautiful. I was there, I was mind-blown by all those patterns in the walls and the art, it's really, really nice.
My message to Egyptians, I think you are doing so well, honouring the past and also looking to the future. Building this museum is just something that is not in Europe; it's something very special. You should be proud, and I’m proud to have taken part in it too.
Short link: