Egypt’s Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem received German Ambassador in Cairo Cyrill Nunn on 10 November to discuss means of reinforcing cultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries.

Present at the meeting were director of the Cairo Opera House Magdy Saber and maestro Ahmed El-Saidi, conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.

During the meeting, Abdel-Dayem emphasised the depth of historic relations between Egypt and Germany, enhanced by the strategic partnerships between them in all fields, including cultural and artistic exchange to build the human personality and further the cause of peace among the peoples of the world.

Abdel-Dayem stressed the importance of the vital role of soft power in relations between nations.

For his part, Ambassador Nunn said, “Germany has historical ties with Egypt which is a country with unique and rich human heritage, embodying the intermingling of civilisations, history and culture.” He added that Germany is seeking to further cultural exchange with Egypt due to its rich cultural potentials, in order to promote noble human values, assuring his full respect for the crucial role played by the Egyptian government in preserving the cultural heritage of Egypt.

In a goodwill gesture embodying his great appreciation for the pioneering role of Egyptian soft power, the German ambassador dedicated to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture the original note of Beethoven’s "Fidelio" opera, the only operatic work written by Beethoven during his artistic career, and which has great artistic value recognised globally.

On 27 and 28 March 2021, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, led by maestro Ahmed El-Saidi, will perform "Fidelio" written by Beethoven at the Cairo Opera House. The concerts will be held under the auspices of the German embassy, which volunteered to supply the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, for free, with musical notes for the opera.