Cairo Steps released a new video of the performance of their original composition Siwa on YouTube and Instagram on Wednesday.
Performing with the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui, the concert took place as part of the Arabic Music Festival (1-10 November 2020) at the Nafura stage, Cairo Opera House.
Siwa is one of the most popular compositions by Cairo Steps, composed by the band's leader and oud player Basem Darwisch. It has been performed numerous times in many venues. The minister of culture, Ines Abdel Dayem has been frequently joining the ensemble playing the flute, one of the most prominent instruments carrying the melody line in Siwa.
In the recently released video, the flute is played by Huda Abd Elazim.
Siwa is arranged for the orchestra by Mohamed Saad Basha.
In the video the Cairo Opera Orchestra features Basem Darwisch (oud), Rami Attallah (piano), Ragy Kamal (kanoun), John Sami (nay), Wael El Sayed (accordion), Huda Abd Elazim (flute), Kareem Hossam (e-bass), Azeema (percussions), Hany Al Sawaf (req and duff), Mohamed Labib (saxophone), Jan Boshra (cello) and violinists Emad Azmy, Shereen Azmy, Shady Abdelsalam, Nehad Gamaleldin.
Founded in 2002 as a collaboration between Darwisch and German pianist Matthias Frey, Cairo Steps has performed extensively in Egypt and Germany, and on many other international stages.
The band brings together numerous music genres -- traditional Egyptian and Oriental grooves, Sufi traditions, Western classical music, European ethnic music and jazz improvisation -- into one melting pot.
The final blend is a unique combination of compositions from Eastern and Western musical cultures.
In 2018, their album Flying Carpet was awarded the German Jazz Award Gold.
One of the past Cairo Steps concerts held at the Cairo Opera House was among the most popular videos released by the culture ministry on its YouTube channel in April 2020.
The concert was released shortly after the launch of “Culture Between Your Hands,” an initiative which kicked off to bring theatre performances, concerts, and other cultural events to audiences online amid the shutdown of theatres, cinemas and concert halls due to the coronavirus.
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