In photos: Egypt's premiere of Beethoven's choral work, from rehearsals to concerts

Ahram Online , Sunday 19 Jun 2016

Two concerts of the Cairo Celebration Choir, conducted by Nayer Nagui, performed at the All Saints' Cathedral and the Basilique Cathédrale

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Cairo Celebration Choir, soloists and orchestra, perform Beethoven's Mass in C major at All Saints' Cathedral in Cairo. 16 June 2016 (Photo: John Essmat)

The Cairo Celebration Choir conducted by its founder and artistic director Nayer Nagui, gave Egypt's premiere of Beethoven's Mass in C major Op 86 at All Saints' Cathedral on 16 June and at the Basilique Cathédrale on 17 June.

The concert also included the Egypt premiere of Overture Zur Namensfeier (Feastday) in C major.

The choir was joined by soloists soprano Mona Rafla, mezzo soprano Jolie Faizy, tenor Amr Medhat and bass baritone Reda El-Wakil, and an orchestra.

This is not the first premiere in the choir's history. Last year, the ensemble premiered Mozart's Great Mass (Große Messe) in C minor.

Founded in 2000 by Nagui, the Cairo Celebration Choir consists of over 100 members. The has choir performed works representing several music schools: French repertoire with Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, Italian with Rossini's La Petite Messe Solennelle, German as represented by Schubert's Stabat Mater, Latin/Spanish with works by Guastavino, and explored English style with Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day.

The choir has a few international appearances under their belt, in Morocco and France, among other tour events. In 2012, the choir participated in the Czech Republic's Prague Voices 2012 Festival, winning the Silver Level Diploma.

Apart of Western classical works, their repertoire also includes compositions by Arab composers, arranged by Nagui. The choir regularly joins Christmas performances staged annually at the Cairo Opera House.

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Cairo Celebration Choir, soloists and orchestra, perform Beethoven's Mass in C major at the Basilique Cathedrale in Cairo. 16 June 2016 (Photo: Ramez Lebbad)

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General rehearsal of the Cairo Celebration Choir, soloists -- soprano Mona Rafla, mezzo soprano Jolie Faizy, tenor Amr Medhat and bass baritone Reda El-Wakil -- and orchestra, before the performance of Beethoven's Mass in C major. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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General rehearsal of the Cairo Celebration Choir, before the performance of Beethoven's Mass in C major. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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General rehearsal of the Cairo Celebration Choir, soloists and orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui, before the performance of Beethoven's Mass in C major. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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General rehearsal of the Cairo Celebration Choir, soloists and orchestra, before the performance of Beethoven's Mass in C major. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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General rehearsal of the Cairo Celebration Choir and orchestra, before the performance of Beethoven's Mass in C major. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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