Abdel-Aziz opened the evening with a set built around Arabic classics and Western pieces, rearranged for the marimba. Her repertoire included Enta Omri, Nesma Alena El-Hawa, Eih El-Youm El-Helw Dah, Sahr El-Layali, Sawaah, Ya Wad Ya Te’eel, Haramt Ahebbak, Helw El-Makan, and Marimba Fusion.
Her arrangements combined familiar Egyptian and Arab melodies with contemporary rhythms and jazz-influenced elements.
Abdel-Aziz began her professional career in 2001 performing with composer and pianist Omar Khairat. She later formed her own band and developed solo projects centered on the marimba. She studied at the Cairo Conservatory before continuing her musical education in the United States and is now regarded as one of the Arab world’s best-known marimba performers.
During the concert, Abdel-Aziz also invited a young girl from the audience onto the stage to celebrate her birthday, following the child's request, adding a warm, personal moment with the audience.
Saleh followed with a concert accompanied by pianist and arranger Amr Selim and his band.
He opened with Zay Ma Heya Hobaha and performed a selection spanning several stages of his career, including Yetqal, El-Nour Makano Fel Quloub, Zay El-Millionairat, 3 Salamat, Wa'di, Habibi Ya Asheq, Kawkab Tany, Taala Nehlam, Ibn Masr, and El-Helwa Dayir Shibbakha.
His set also drew on the wider Egyptian and Arab songbook. Saleh performed Fi Youm We Leila, associated with Warda, and W Kan Ya Ma Kan, made famous by Mayada El-Henawy, alongside Rag'een Ya Hawa.
He also included a segment from Abdel Halim Hafez's Ay Dem'et Hozn La, which he dedicated to the late singer Hany Shaker.
Saleh, one of Egypt's established popular singers, has built a repertoire that includes romantic songs, Egyptian pop, and music for film and television. His credits include songs featured in Egyptian films such as Mafia, El-Belyatsho, and Amir El-Zalam, in addition to work across cinema, television and theatre.
The singer told the audience that performing at the Citadel Festival had become an annual occasion he looked forward to, describing his participation as akin to a birthday celebration.
The 34th edition featured an array of Egyptian, Arab and international performers, including Ali El-Haggar, Hisham Abbas, Aziz Maraka, Samah Tarek, Nesma Mahgoub, Wust El-Balad band, Yassin El-Tohamy, Fouad and Mounib, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra performing Carmina Burana, and an Indian Bollywood ensemble, among others.
The Cairo Opera House organized the festival, drawing large audiences to the annual event, held at the historic open-air Citadel venue.
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