Online concert by Egyptian musician Omar Khairat garners over half-a-million views
Ahram Online, Monday 30 Mar 2020
The concert was released online by the Ministry of Culture on 26 March


A concert by well-known Egyptian pianist and composer Omar Khairat has reached over 632,000 views by the third day after its release.

Released by the Ministry of Culture on YouTube on 26 March, the concert is part of the ministry'sCulture Between Your Handsinitiative, which aims to bring theatre performances, concerts and other cultural events to audiences online amid the current shutdown of theatres, cinemas and concert halls over the coronavirus pandemic.

With Khairat on the piano and the orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, the concert also features numerous known singers and instrumentalists.

The online events posted by the culture ministry vary from music events to theatre performances, most of which garner a few thousand views.

Khairat's concert was recorded at the Cairo Opera House's main hall, a venue which hosts the musician on a regular basis, with each concert being fully sold out days after its announcement

.

One of the most popular contemporary composers in the region, Khairat has composed the scores for over 50 Egyptian films, including The Sixth Day (1984), The Terrorist (1993), Mafia (2002), Girl's Love (2003), The Embassy in the Building (2005) and Deer's Blood (2006).

In television, his memorable works include Lailat El-Qabd Ala Fatma (1984) and Dameer Abla Hekmat (1991).

Khairat, 70, also composes music for theatre and special ceremonies, such as the opening of important Egyptian and regional cultural festivals.

Khairat has also arranged compositions by celebrated Egyptian musician Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, releasing them as Wahabiat 1 and 2. His arrangements of Oum Kalthoum’s songs have also brought him acclaim.

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