Egypt's cultural picks of the week 12-19 January: VIDEOS

Ahram Online, Saturday 11 Jan 2014

Egypt's culture scene has a lot to offer for the start of 2014, from music to film screenings and exhibitions. Check out Ahram Online's recommendations for this week

Weekly events
From top left clockwise: singer and songwriter Maryam Saleh (concert on 15 and 16 Jan), fragment of work by Doa Aly (exhibition at the Gypsum Gallery), Still from the movie 'The Universe of Keith Haring' (screening on 12 Jan), Mozart (concerts including Mozart's works on 16 and 17 Jan)

Sunday 12 January

Screening of The Universe of Keith Haring at Mashrabia Gallery, 6pm

The film is a documentary looking into the life and work of Keith Allen Haring (1958 – 1990), a New York based graffiti and visual artist. The movie is based on testimonies by Bill T. Jones, Yoko Ono, and David La Chapelle and Fab 5 Freddy, who talk about the artist at the backdrop of his creativity and his times. Produced in 2007, the movie is directed by Christina Clausen. The film is in English and will have Italian subtitles. Watch the movie trailer below.

8 Champolion Street, Downtown Cairo

 

Screening of El-Ard (The Land) at Dina’s Hostel at 7pm

In celebration of the anniversary of the late Egyptian renowned director Youssef Chahine’s (1926−2008) birthday on 25 January, Dina’s Hostel will screen the 1969 classic ‘El-Ard’ (The Land) which explores the complex relationship between peasants and their land owner and themes of oppression and collective action. The film was in the 1970 Cannes Film Festival and based on the popular novel carrying the same title by Abdel-Rahman El-Sharqawi. 

42 Abdel-Khalek Tharwat Street, 5th Floor, Downtown Cairo

 

Shouf Photography Exhibition Opening in Atelier Du Caire at 7pm

The photographers participating are Aly Hazzaa, George and Samuel Mohsen, Heba Khalifa, Randa Shaath, Sabry Khaled and Ziad Hassan. The seven photographers work in photo journalism and chose photography as the medium through which they tell stories. Their photography expresses their views about their country and the world, yet each of them has a different eye and a different angle, and the diversity of their backgrounds and techniques makes for an interesting exhibition. The exhibition is ongoing until Friday 17 January.

2, Karim El Dawla Street, Downtown Cairo

 
Monday 13 January

Chamber Music at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

The evening will include two string quartets. First half of the evening will include Borodin's String Quartet no 2 performed by Amir Sorour and Mahmoud Abdel Azim on violins, Youssef Sameh on viola and Marcellino Safwat on cello. The second half of the evening will transport the audience to String Quartet op. 64 No. 4 in G major by Haydn, performed by Nora Ritner and Maki Taka on violins, Robert Ritner on viola and Mohamed Salah on cello.

Small Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek

 

Tuesday 14 January

The Clown Laughing and Crying: Omar El-Nagdi at Picasso Art Gallery

Born in Cairo in 1931, Omar El-Nagdi is one of Egypt's most prominent artists. He also delves into sculpture, film direction, music and philosophy. His works have been exhibited in Egyptian museums as well as international museums and exhibitions, including in Italy, France, the UK, the USA, among others. El Nagdi's solo show, entitled 'The Clown Laughing and Crying' will open 22 December at Picasso Art Gallery. The exhibition runs until 16 January.

Picasso Gallery, 30 Hassan Assem Street, from Brazil Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Omar El Nagdi
Work by Omar El Nagdi, from exhibition 'The Clown Laughing and Crying' at Picasso Art Gallery (Photo courtesy: Picasso Art Gallery)

 

Wednesday 15 January

Snow White ballet at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Ballet class of Lamia Zayed, operating under the Talents Development Centre will perform the ballet Snow White. The evening is organised under the supervision of Abdel Wahab Sayed. Read more about the Talents Development Centre here.

Maryam Saleh and Darwasha in Heliopolis Library at 8pm

In 2012, Saleh released her debut album 'Ana Mesh Baghany' (I'm Not Singing), which mixed psychedelic rock with folky Arabic lyrics. Saleh has also collaborated with Lebanese underground icon Zeid Hemdan to produce trip hop covers of Sheikh Imam's music such as 'Nixon Baba' and 'Valerie Giscard D'Estaing.' Saleh was also part of psychedelic rock initiatives 'Baraka Band' and 'The Choir Project.' Opening for Saleh are Arabic rock band Darwasha. Read more on Maryam’s collaboration project with Zeid Hemdan here. Watch Saleh perform 'Ana Mesh Baghany' below.

42 Orouba Street, Heliopolis, Cairo

  

Thursday 16 January

2 B Continued Festival for theatre and dance in Falaki Theatre, 8pm

Four pieces of theatre and dance by young Egyptian directors and choreographers will be presented back-to-back on 16, 18 and 19 January. The performances were developed under the mentorship of Studio Emad Eddin’s founder and director Ahmed El-Attar, choreographer Mohamed Shafik, Lebanese set designer, artist, and art director Hussein Baydoun, Hussein Sami (sound design and operation), and Paul Geday (light design). Read more here.

Falaki Theatre, AUC Tahrir campus, Downtown Cairo

Arabic music with Reham Abdel Hakim at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi will perform Arabic music. The evening will be joined by Reham Abdel Hakim.

Mai Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek

Mozart's anniversary at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 7pm

Celebrating the anniversary of Mozart's (1756–1791) birthday on 27 January, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ahmed El-Saedi will perform the composer's works: Divertimento no. 1 for String Orchestra in D Major K. 136, Concerto For Violin no. 5 in A Major K. 219, Symphony no. 29 in A Major K. 201. Soloist of the evening is Hassan Sharara on violin. Watch Hasan Sharara on violin and Mahmoud Osman on viola performing Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, in E-flat major, K. 364. (in video: conductor Sherfi Mohie El-Din).

Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Centre, Great Hall, Chatby, Alexandria

Also on this day:
Maryam Saleh and Darwasha in Heliopolis Library at 8pm. See Wednesday 15 January listings for details

 

Friday 17 January

Egyptian Sinfonietta at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Conducted by its founder and principal conductor, Ahmed El-Saedi, the Egyptian Sinfonietta will give its first concert in the 2013/2014 season, with works by Mozart: Overture to Bastien et Bastienne, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A major, K. 219 and Symphony in A major, K. 201. Soloist of the evening is Hassan Sharara (on violin). Read more about the Egyptian Sinfonietta here

Main Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek

Inji's World at Safarkhan Gallery 

Once again, Safarkhan dedicates its first exhibition of the year to Inji Efflatoun (1924-1989), a key figure in modern Egyptian art. Despite her privileged upbringing, Efflatoun dedicated a large portion of her life to social activism and fighting for women's rights. For that, she is often referred to as an activist as well as a painter. The exhibition runs until 14 February.

6 Brazil Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Inji Aflatoun
Work by Inji Aflatounfrom 'Inji's World' exhibition at Safarkhan Gallery (Photo courtesy: Safarkhan Gallery)

 

Saturday 18 January

Pianist Siqian Li from China at the Arab Music Institute, 8pm

Young pianist Siqian Li from China will perform works by Scarlatti, Chopin, Haydn, Debussy and Prokofiev. The concert is part of the recitals held by the International Music Centre. Usually taking place at the historic Manasterly Palace, this time, the evening is moved to the Arab Music Institute.

22 Ramsis Street, Downtown Cairo

WHY: Nadine Hammam at ArtTalks

Zamalek's ArtTalks Gallery is hosting Nadine Hammam’s fourth solo exhibition, entitled 'WHY.' The Cairo-based, multidisciplinary artist often puts social taboos and gender dynamics into question, exploring the structures pervading Middle Eastern society in artworks produced in various media, including painting, text, sound, video, and installation. In this exhibition, Hammam takes a closer look at the word “why.” By rearranging fragments of broken mirrors on canvas to spell out words such as “love, lust, forever,” the artist places the audience in her artwork.

8 Al-Kamel Mohamed Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Nadine Hammam
Fragment of 'Passion', work by Nadine Hammam, part of the WHY series exhibited at Art Talks (Photo courtesy: Art Talks)

Also on this day:
- 2 B Continued Festival for theatre and dance in Falaki Theatre at 8pm. See 16 January listings for details


Sunday 19 January   

Contemporary works from all around the world at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Concert by the Cairo Opera Orchestra will perform contemporary works by composers from the Arab region and from France. The programme includes Abu Bakr Khairat's Isis Symphonic Overture Op.22 in D major, Alain Huteau's Liberty Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Mohamed Saad Basha's Entizar for Oud and Orchestra as well as Suleiman Al-Qoudsi and Vincent Charrier's Orientarias. The soloists of the evening are Elisa Huteau on cello, Hisham Essam on oud and Lebanese soprano Rima Tawil. The concert will be conducted by Nayer Nagui. Listen to 'Emmi' from Orientarias performed by the Danube Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna with soprano Rima Tawil below.

Main Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek

Also on this day:
- 2 B Continued Festival for theatre and dance in Falaki Theatre at 8pm (See 16 January entry for details)

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