The Culture Ministry applies all precautionary and preventive measures with daily sterilization of the theatres in order to ensure the safety of the public, artists and workers. Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 3 and Fri 4, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company gives two concerts. Sun 6, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble performs Umm Kolthoum songs.
Beit Al-Seheimi Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865 Every Sunday, 7pm: 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, 7pm: "Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel" (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Fountain Theatre Thurs 10 and Fri 11, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company performs Zorba ballet and Al-Leila Al-Kebira operetta. Main Hall Sat 5, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Thurs 10 and Fri 11, 8pm: Celebrating St. Petersburg Cultural Days in Egypt, St. Petersburg State Chamber Music Theatre performs Rigoletto opera. Small Hall Fri 4, 8pm: A chamber music concert features Isis String Orchestra.
Cervantes Institute 20 Boulos Hanna St, Dokki, Tel 02 3760 1746 The Cervantes Institute in Cairo organises artistic shows, mixing music and poetry, under the title "Weeks in the Garden" in its garden every Wednesday throughout the month of June, in the presence of a number of ambassadors. With the application of the necessary health measures and rules of social distancing, "Weeks in the Garden" will see the participation of a number of bands, as well as reading poetry excerpts from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Peru, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia and Portugal translated into Arabic. The Garden Wed 9, 6.30-9pm: Guitar recital by Ahmed Abdel-Rahman.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music (Performances every Sat and Wed, 7pm).
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 3, 8pm: The National Arab Music ensemble. Fri 4, 7pm: Enjoy a different music night with Cairota band featuring Rocksea live on stage. Wed 9 and Thurs 10, 8pm: Forsan El Sharq for Heritage Company presents Folklore and Ages dance performance.
Italian Cultural Institute Egyptian choreographer and contemporary dancer Hazem Headar is producing an original performance inspired by Federico Fellini and his masterpiece "Roma". Through the vitality of Fellini's imagination embodied by the city of Rome, a group of young Egyptian dancers, led by Headar will interpret during five performances the analogies that connect Rome to Cairo. The videos of the performances, shot in different locations, both indoor and outdoor, will investigate the importance of public spaces during the current pandemics and our day-to-day relation with the pulsing energy of the city. Videos will be available on the IIC social channels and website in June. The collaboration with Makan (the Egyptian Center for Culture and Arts) continues online in June. Egyptian musicians will virtually meet Italian counterparts in order to create synergies in the field of traditional and folk music.
Room Art Space & Café 10 Etehaad Al Mohamin St, Garden City, Tel 01000 681539 Thurs 3, 9pm: A concert by Hardcase, Cairo's hottest blues/rock band. Fri 4, 9pm: The Gypsy Jazz Project. Thurs 10, 9pm: Insjam (harmony) band plays very unique music merging the Egyptian culture and the Eastern music feel with the Western international genres such as Jazz, Blues, Latin. New Cairo, The Spot Mall Sat 5, 9pm: Enjoy a special oriental singing and oud night. Sun 6, 8.30pm: Comedy Monsters (Stand-up Comedy Open Mic). Mon 7, 9pm: Tafaqum band. Tues 8, 9pm: Dabbet Namla is an Arabic Indie pop rock band performs songs revolve around the common cultural and trending topics in the local and global community.
El-Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 (No entry without a mask and the hall will be open at only 25 percent audience capacity) River Hall Thurs 3, 6 and 8pm: El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of Umm Kolthoum performing two of her much-loved songs, Amal Hayatti (hope of my life) and Lel Sabr Hodoud (patience has limits). Fri 4, 8pm: Singer and chanter Ali El-Helbawi performs his much-loved songs. Sat 5, 8pm: El Kayyan band, led by Azmy Magdy performs east-meets-west compositions. Sun 6, 7.31pm: Egyptian songs performed by Nogoum Masreya (Egyptian stars) band. Mon 7, 7.30pm: classical Arab music concert with Zekryati band, led by singer Ramy Abou El Fotouh. Tues 8, 7.30pm: Nour Al-Nabi troupe chants religious songs for the love of Prophet Mohamed (P.B.U.H). Wed 9, 7.30pm: Charisma band. Thurs 10, 7pm: A stand-up comedy shoe by The Elite. Wisdom Hall Thurs 3, 7pm: Eftekasat will perform a bit of jazz, a bit of rock along with some other elements, blended together in a brilliant mix.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 3, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing in a programme of classical Arab songs.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
