Accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, the veteran pianist introduced some of his famous tunes, such as Egyptian Oveture, Heya Di El-Hayah, Fi Hawid El-Leil, Arabian Rhapsody, Fiha Haga Helaw, Eadam Mayet, El-Khawaga Abdel-Kader, Giran El-Hana, Mafia, Saber, Arfa, Qadeyet Am Ahmed, Khali Balak Men Aklak, and other hits of classic TV and film themes. 

The concert’s conductor, Nayer Naguei, wrote “tonight was the first time in my 30 years career to play a concert in front of 25,000 spectators,” thanking Khairat, the orchestra, and the sound engineer Mafdy Thabet who gave their best before an enthusiastic crowd. 

Khairat’s concert followed a performance by Egyptian Cello Group State of Harmony who played some famous Egyptian and international covers and movie themes and scores.

Managed by the Cairo Opera House, the 36 concerts held during the 15-night event of the 30th edition of the Citadel Festival for Music and Singing has been attended by 100,000 spectators.

The festival’s concerts were aired live on Alhayah TV channel, with many performances becoming among the top trending topics on social media platforms in Egypt and winning the appreciation of various critics.

Among the renowned Egyptian and Arab star singers who performed during the festival are Hisham Abbas, Hany Shaker, Ali El-Haggar, Nawal El-Zoghbi, Dina El-Wedidi, Mohamed Mohsen, Nouran Abutaleb, Tania Saleh, Nesma Mahgoub, Lena Chamamyan, as well as bands like Black Theama and Wust El-Balad, and Sufi chanters like Yassin El-Tohamy, and El-Hadra Troup.

Special tributes to ten cultural figures “who contributed to enriching the artistic scene in Egypt and the Arab World was made,” including musicians such as the late conductor Kamal Helal, violinist Mahmoud Othman, opera singer Mustafa Mohamed, poet Ibrahim Abdel-Fattah, conductor Mohamed Abdel-Sattar, director Karima Badr as well as cultural executives Howida Eid, Ragab Abdel-Wahab, Mamduh Mokhtar and the late Mohmoud El-Sherbiny.