Having lived in Egypt and studied Arab music, Natalia Trigo—who performed in the choir under Maestro Nayer Nagui and sang the music of Hisham Nazih—said she felt a profound personal connection to the ceremony. She described the entire event as “mind-blowing” and said she was “so honoured” to dedicate her art to a country she has grown to cherish.
Trigo stressed that the new museum and the evening’s performance were a striking testament to culture’s power to unite the world.
She added that the celebration went far beyond honouring Egypt’s ancient heritage; it was a powerful act of global unity. With musicians from across the world performing together, she viewed the event as a genuine message of peace, where diverse voices merged into “one voice together” in celebration of culture.
Ahram Online (AO): How did you view the opening ceremony and the performance?
Natalia Trigo (NT): I was overwhelmed. It was marvellous—God, I felt so honoured to be part of it. I felt incredibly lucky to sing in an orchestra of 250 musicians, Egyptians and others from around the world. Everyone was so talented and gave their absolute best. I am deeply grateful to have dedicated my voice to giving something back to Egyptians and to celebrating Egypt. Egyptians have always been so kind to me, and I was honoured to sing for them in such a beautiful ceremony.
AO: How were you selected for the performance?
NT: I’ve been singing at the Cairo Opera House, and I joined the Institute for Arab Music, where I am studying Arab music as well. I’ve sung in different venues with the Opera House and at other concerts, and I was invited to join the choir.
I had visited the museum several times before its official opening—it is a wonderful experience. Being chosen as a singer for this opening ceremony was a huge honour. At the same time, seeing my hometown, Rio de Janeiro, represented so beautifully and playing such an important role in paying tribute to Egypt was overwhelming. Watching my city displayed to the world while performing this music was a very special moment. It felt as if the world united to witness Egypt’s beauty.
AO: How did you view the attendance of the Brazilian Minister of Culture, representing President Lula da Silva?
NT: Oh my God, I was so honoured and so anxious. I felt incredibly proud of all of us for this achievement. Our special guest, Margareth Menezes, is not only our Minister of Culture but also a wonderful singer with a distinguished career. Having her there meant so much to me—it is difficult to put into words.
AO: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi focused in his remarks on peace and the museum’s mission to promote peace. How do you see that message?
NT: I think the whole world came together to appreciate Egypt and this extraordinary achievement—building such a beautiful museum and presenting this ancient culture to the world. We came together to create this music; so many nationalities were represented among us, yet we performed as one, one voice together. I believe the music we produced symbolizes that unity. The museum itself represents the power of culture—and music—to bring us all together as one voice.
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