The new musical release of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Centre showcases the BA Orchestra, the BA Youth Orchestra, the BA Choir and the BA Children Choir performing together a nationalistic medley.

Released on the Bibliotheca's YouTube channel on Wednesday, the video relies on editing to bring together youth and children performing the work in different locations.

The music is arranged by Egyptian composer Rageh Daoud and the performance is conducted by Nayer Nagui.

The audio editing and mixing is by Remon Kadry, and the video was created at the BA Studio by Mohamed Zedan.

Operating under the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Centre, the youth orchestra is trained by Shadi Abdel Salam, the youth choir is under the supervision of Donia El Deghidy, and the children’s choir is led by Mireille Banoub.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has been posting videos on cultural as well as science-related topics on its YouTube channel since March, when Egyptian cultural institutions were temporarily shuttered due to the coronavirus.

While all the programmes add something unique, the videos focusing on music have garnered the highest viewership so far. The national medley has scored over 2,900 views in the two days since its release.

On 21 May, the Bibliotheca's YouTube channel uploaded a composition titled Ibtihal by Rageh Daoud with lyrics that "fit the difficult times we are all going through," the composer said in the video’s introduction.

The video shows members of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina chamber orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui and featuring chanter Samir Azmi, with each musician performing from a different location. The video and music was edited by Remon Qadri.

Also on 21 May, the Bibliotheca released a concert which was recorded on 7 March, shortly before the shutdown, and featuring Bibliotheca’s string orchestra performing works by Handel, Haydn, Mozart and Sherif Mohie Eldin, who also conducts the orchestra. The same evening featured pianist Seif Eldin Sherif playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, accompanied by the Bibliotheca’s orchestra under the baton of Mohie Eldin.

On 21 April, the Bibliotheca’s quintet, led by Shadi Abdelsalam, live-streamed a concert featuring works by a variety of composers representing classical as well as light music.

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