The American University in Cairo Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/012 8000 9077 Ewart Memorial Hall Sat 6, 8pm: BA Orchestra, conducted by maestro Hisham Gabr, performs Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana”, one of the most popular pieces in the classical music repertoire.
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Sun 7, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage ensemble performs a selection of classical Arab music.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 0 22591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, conducted by Abdel-Rahman Al-Shafaai performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments. Every Friday, 8.30pm: A free public performance by clowns in Al-Muiz Street, “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet) presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 4, 8pm: Verdi's “Rigoletto” performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, together with the Cairo Opera Choir, conducted by David Creszenci and directed by Abdallah Saad. The story, based on a controversial play by Victor Hugo, tells of a hunchbacked jester who struggles to balance the duelling elements of beauty and evil in his life. Fri 5, 8pm: Maestro Emad Al-Sharouni and his orchestra perform the songs of Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and Abdel-Halim Hafez. Sat 6, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents a programme of classical music. Sun 7, 8pm: Les Petits Chats troupe presents “Chansons d'Amour” show. Tues 9-Fri 12, 8pm: “Tango, Buenos Aires,” ballet from Argentina featuring Nadia Muzyca, principal dancer of the Teatro Colón, together with dancers Federico Fernández and Edgardo Trabalon, music by Astor Piazzolla and choreography by Julián Galván. Small Hall Thurs 4, 8pm: Guitar recital by Emad Hamdi. Fri 5, 8pm: Concert featuring flautist Riham Fayed and harpist Mona Wassef.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 4, 10.30pm: The musicians of the Funk OFF band perform hit songs in their own special way. VYBE band presents R&B, soul and pop. Fri 5, 10pm: Mixing master Mohasseb takes control of our “Friday Fever” with his irresistible, high-energy progressive house. Wed 10, 10pm: A Boogie Night with vocalist Ramy and DJ Junkie.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 every Sat, Mon & We, (9.30pm, free admission) Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Fri 5, 8pm: The National Arab Music ensemble, conducted by maestro Selim Sahab plays classical Arab music. Sat 6, 8pm: Farid Al-Babli band performs classical Arab songs.
Makan Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday: (fixed event) Zikr and Sufi night. Every Tuesday, 9pm (doors open at 8.30pm): Mawawil and Gamalat Shiha present traditional music of the Nile Delta; Nubian Fadeka music and songs with Aragid, featuring Saleh Abbas and Farah Al-Masri; traditional Sudanese music and songs performed by Queen of Henna Settouna; Al-Jaafra music played by musicians from Aswan; Nass Makan (People from Makan) and Sanet perform traditional music from Eritrea. Every Wednesday, 9pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher, featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sab.
El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 50995354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 4, 8pm: Al-Tanbura presents folk dances and songs from the Suez Canal cities. Their instruments are their voices, the simsimia, the tanbura (big lyre), nay also Kawala (end-blown, reed flute), tabla (vase-shaped drum), triangle, sagat (small cymbals), shakhalil (kind of castanets) and riq (open, wooden frame drum with jingling discs set into the frame). Sat 6, 9pm: Asyad Al-Zar (The Zar Masters) play healing music. The band is comprised of some of the few remaining Egyptian and Sudanese zar performers, playing the tanbura, toza ( small 2-sided percussion), mangour (a wide belt of goat hooves worn around the hips), marakesh (hand-held rattles) and tambourine.
El-Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 River Hall Thurs 4, 7pm: Marking the 27th anniversary of the death of singer Ahmed Mounib, the local band Mounib performs a number of his best-known songs. Fri 5, 7pm: “Pink Floyd Night” concert features AndrOmida band playing 1970s classic rock, including Pink Floyd. Wed 10, 7pm: Singing recital by Amir Youssef. Thurs 11, 7.30pm: Abu-Shaar Brothers band from Syria performs Sufi songs. Wisdom Hall Thurs 4, 6 and 8pm: El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre performs the diva Um Kolthoum's concerts, including two of her best-known love songs: “Alf Laila wi Laila” (Thousand Nights and One Night) and “Zalamt Al-Hob” (Misunderstood Love). Sat 6, 8pm: The Jets perform original songs, including “Linda Linda”. Sun 7, 7pm: A concert of religious chanting featuring munshid (religious chanter) Sheikh Gamal Salem. Mon 8, 8pm: Swiss singer and guitarist Bastian Baker joins Egyptian singer and guitarist Hany Adel on stage for an exceptional concert. Tues 9, 7pm: Munshid (religious singer) Ali Al-Helbawi chants religious songs, invocations and hymns. Thurs 11, 8pm: Basata (Simplicity) band performs contemporary Egyptian songs.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 4, 8pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini (religious chanting) troupe, conducted by maestro Alaa Abdel-Salam, performs religious songs. Sat 6 and Sun 7, 8pm: The Modern Dance Theatre Company presents “The Dream of a Sculptor”, choreographed and directed by Walid Aouni. Mon 8, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra performs international classics. Thurs 11, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing performs classical Arab music and songs. Sun 14, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra performs a Valentine's Day concert of international love songs. Mon 15 and Tues 16, 8pm: “Tango, Buenos Aires” ballet from Argentina featuring Nadia Muzyca, principal dancer of the Teatro Colón, together with dancers Federico Fernández and Edgardo Trabalon, with music by Astor Piazzolla and choreography by Julián Galván.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria, Tel 03 4839999 Main Hall Fri 5, 7pm: BA Orchestra, conducted by maestro Hisham Gabr, performs Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana”, one of the most popular pieces from the classical music repertoire.
