El Agroudy explained that the Opera House comprises three halls: the Main Hall, the Music Hall, and the Drama Hall. Each hall’s ceiling is divided into three sections, which form the starting point for the overall design concept.
From the very beginning, El Agroudy was determined to craft a design that authentically represented Egyptian identity.
This endeavour culminated in the harmonious fusion of the once prevalent European influences with the rich artistry and motifs of ancient Egypt.
To this end, she formed a working team and began an extensive research phase, including all the details she envisioned drawing and designing, based on Egyptology.
The main theme was the concept of “celebrations,” embodying the rhetoric of the Opera House.
Dr El Agroudy emphasized the importance of ornamental and figurative elements, depicted among clouds on the ceilings, while maintaining the stylistic character of ancient Egyptian art.
Furthermore, the ceilings of the Opera House were previously adorned with drawings and figures amid clouds. Therefore, she aimed to preserve the original artwork’s integrity while seamlessly integrating her own artistic vision.
This required an in-depth study of artworks depicting celebrations in ancient Egyptian temples, including both worldly and funerary scenes. The research also covered musical instruments, dances, and aspects of daily life in ancient Egypt.
After gathering the material and consulting specialised references, each element was drawn directly from its historical origins, whether ornaments, colours, materials, oils, musical instruments, movement, visual storytelling, or spatial arrangement.
These elements were then reinterpreted in a contemporary way, while preserving the essence of the original art.
El Agroudy considered that the first challenge she faced was giving life and vitality to rigid figures.
The second challenge was working with Egypt’s long and complex history, which includes periods of occupation, particularly the Orientalist era. During that time, European artists drew inspiration from Egyptian civilization, just as Egypt absorbed elements of European artistic styles.
Celebrations and Egyptian art in the halls
Regarding the Grand Hall, the main Opera House hall, El Agroudy affirmed the importance of incorporating Egyptological themes within the design, a study that took a full year.
While blending these themes of Egyptology with existing European-inspired motifs, she aimed to portray scenes of celebration from ancient Egyptian life, moving across the ceiling in a balanced composition of ornaments, figures, and musical instruments.
The walls feature arched spaces containing printed artworks in the same style, along with four circular paintings depicting scenes from ancient Egyptian life.
These same designs will also be used in the carpets planned for the hall. The deep red colour of the columns was preserved and reflected in the paintings and finishing materials.
El Agroudy added that the goal was to create a visual connection between the ceiling and the walls by using elements of ancient Egyptian architecture. The designs highlight scenes of music, dance, and daily life, shown through central figures surrounded by decorative motifs and the natural lotus flower. Care was taken to ensure harmony between the ceiling finishes and the wall paintings.
As for the Music Hall, distinguished by its blue columns, its ceiling was designed in a European Orientalist style. She began by dressing all the figures in ancient Egyptian costumes.
She confirmed that her paintings drew inspiration from both European art and Orientalist art, which she merged into a single design through her own vision, set against a background of European decorative motifs.
Due to the restriction imposed by the blue columns, tonal variations of the same colour were used, along with gilding and decorative mouldings inspired by the European style.
The Drama Hall, with its green columns, was also inspired by Orientalist art, incorporating some European decorative elements to complete its overall appearance.
Carefully arranged scenes depicting drama, dance, and musical instruments were created to suit the hall’s function, using green tones inspired by the existing columns.
El Agroudy concluded by noting that the execution of the designs took a full year. Each ceiling in the Opera House includes paintings, figures, and musical instruments that correspond to the historical period from which each design draws its inspiration.
Short link: