Celebrateing 102 years since Farid Al Atrash was born, the Cairo Opera House is organising two concerts for the Alexandria Opera Ensemble for Arab Music and Singing conducted by Abdel-Hameed Abdel-Ghaffar on Thursday 4 October at the Sayed Darwish Theatre (Alexandria Opera House) and on Friday 5 October at the Damanhoor Opera House.

The programme features a selection of Al Atrash's finest songs performed by the troupe's singing stars Ahmed Amar, Doaa Ragab, Hossam Kamal, Enas Ezz El Din, Mohamed Metwaly, Amin El Refaie, Samya Wagdy, Mai El Gebely, Marwa Hamdy, Mostafa Saad, with musicians Dr. Ehad Abdel Hameed on the violin, Dr. Sherif Kamel on the qanoon and Mohamed Fouda on the nai.

Farid Al Atrash, known as King of Oud, was born in 1910 in Syria. He started singing when he was only 15 years of age, performing alongside his mother Alyaa in one of her public shows. He perfected his art with his sister Asmahan at the Mary Mansour hall, where he sang lyrics by the most famous poets of his dau, including Bairam El-Tonsy, Morsy Gameel Azeez, Hussein El-Sayed, and Kamel El-Shenawy. He was also a talented and distinguised composer, writing numerous songs for renowned singers such as Sabah, Noor El-Hoda and Moharam Fouad.

Farid Al Atrash passed away on 26 December, 1974, leaving behind a musical legacy to be reckoned with.

Programme:

Thursday 4 October at 8pm

Alexandria Opera House's Sayed Darwish Theatre

22 El-Horreya Road (formerly known as Fouad St.), El-Raml Station, Alexandria

Friday 5 October at 8pm

Damanhour Opera House