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 Sun 26, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab 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 23 and Fri 24, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra perform Verdi's opera Aida. On the occasion of Verdi's anniversary,120 years after the death of the composer from Busseto, maestro Elio Orciuolo will conduct the orchestra of the Cairo Opera House in this special edition. Main Hall Thurs 23, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab songs. Sat 25, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Open-Air Theatre Sun 26, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Children Choir for Arab music. Wed 29, 8pm: Cairo Café band, led by Ali Sharaf. Small Hall Fri 24, 8pm: Viola recital by Rasha Yehia and her band. Mon 27, 8pm: Guitar recital by Wahid Mamdouh. Thurs 30, 8pm: Harp recital by Yasmine El-Harby.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 23, 8pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi chanter Amer Al-Toni, performs Sufi dances and chants. Fri 24, 8pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini troupe performs religious chants. Thurs 30, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble performs classical Arab songs.
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).
Makan 1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878 Every Tuesday, 8-10pm: Mawawil features vocalists Hend and Sara in a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band. Every Wednesday, 8-10pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah. Thurs 23, 8pm and doors open 7.30pm: Downtown Comedy Night Vol.3, a night full of laughter and excitement.
Room Art Space & Café 10 Etehaad Al Mohamin St, Garden City, Tel 01000 681539 Thurs 23, 9pm: The Comedy Bunch are back with a standup comedy night. Fri 24, 9pm: Estabena perform folk music from the Mediterranean countries Morocco, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Algeria, France. Estabena is an Egyptian word borrowed from the Italian language which means "we agree". Sat 25, 9pm: A comedy night with Beit El Comedy. Thurs 30, 9pm: Indie rock night with Taht El Sefr band. The Spot mall, infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo Fri 24, 8pm: Join the monthly Open Mic Night! If you play music, write poetry, or a stand-up comedian sign up when you arrive for seven minutes on Room stage. Or just relax and enjoy back-to-back performances over a drink or coffee. Mon 27, 9pm: Pink Floyd tribute night by Gravy Train band. Tues 28, 9pm: The Sinatras features, for the first time, the amazing Hana Abaza singing a collection of your favourite tunes for Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
Salaheddin Citadel Salah Salem Rd, Mokattam, Cairo, Tel 02 2512 1735 The 14th Samaa International Festival for Religious Singing and Spiritual Music (18-24 September) Ba'ar Youssef Under the slogan "A Message of Peace to the World", the Samaa Festival will roam Upper Egypt, starting in Sohag Governorate, and for the first time will go to Alexandria, where a peace message will be presented at Saint Catherine's Church in Alexandria. In the festival, 33 troupes include Egyptian troupes as well as troupes of the foreign embassies in Egypt. Jordan, Romania, France, Greece, Spain, Indonesia, Serbia, Sudan, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine, Pakistan and Egypt will also participate, in addition to special participation by Syrian troupes residing in Egypt. This year's guest of honor is Jordan. This comes within the framework of the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the celebrations of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the centenary of the establishment of the Jordanian state. The festival also celebrates Tunisia and the long history of the Tunisian band's participation in the activities of previous sessions, and the personality of the festival is Beethoven.
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 23, 8pm: A reggae night by Meshwar band. Fri 24, 7pm: Sufi chanting by Al-Hadra troupe. Sat 25, 4 and 7.30pm: Jordanian singer, composer and producer Aziz Maraka created a music style named "Razz". He performs Arabic rock-jazz fusion that garnered regional attention. Sun 26, 7.30pm: Nogoum Masreya band revives the old classical songs. Mon 27, 8pm: Singing recital by Nevine Ragab. Tues 28, 7pm: Creative band performs modern Egyptian songs. Thurs 30, 7.30pm: A stand-up comedy show by Biet El Comedy. Wisdom Hall Thurs 23, 8pm: A concert of classical Arab songs features singer Ahmed Shawky. Fri 24, 8pm: El Nafekha band presents a kind of theatrical performance that combines musical instruments, body language, costumes, visual and optical effects and sometimes singing. Sat 25, 8pm: Singer Wael Al-Fashny performs folk songs from the Egyptian music heritage. Thurs 30, 7.30pm: El Dor El Awal band.
Zamalek Theatre The Armed Forces Officers Club, Zamalek, Tel 01101153105 Fri 24, 8pm: Arab rap by Abyusif. Sat 25, 7pm: Dina El-Wedidi.
ALEXANDRIA Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 23, 8pm: A concert by Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing. Sat 25, 8pm: A concert features Youssef Abbass.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 September, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly