Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy Spring Festival (24 April-26 May) Amir Taz Palace 27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 2514 2581 Thur 24, 6pm: The opening concert of Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy Spring FestivalfeaturesMiss Lira from South Africa who fuses soul, funk, jazz and African music. El Genaina Theatre Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Darassa. Tel 2362 5057 Sat 26, 8pm: Miss Lira from South Africa fuses soul, funk, jazz and African music. Thur 1, 8pm: Turab, a contemporary Palestinian music ensemble. Amir Taz Palace 27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 2514 2581 Sat 26, 5pm: The Shadow Puppet & Qarakoz show. Sun 27, 7pm: A concert honours the memory of late singer and composer Farid Al-Atrash.
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St. Tel 2574 3373 Sat 26, 8pm: Abdel-Wahab songs. Sun 27, 8pm: A concert features cellist Ashraf Sharara, pianist Iman Sami and guitarist Emad Hamdi.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 7.30pm: 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, 7pm: A performance by clowns in Al Muiz Street, entitled; Al Aragouz Wa Khayal Al Zel (The shadow puppet & Qarakoz show) We Will Come Right to the Audience…Free Theatre." The show is presented by Wamda groupfor Shadow Puppets and Qarakoz, directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 2737 0602/2736 *Art Creativity Centre Wed 30, 7pm: Part of the Oud House concerts, Arab band plays Sudanese, Eastern and Arab compositions on oud. *Main Hall Thur 24, 8pm: Umm Kulthoum songs. Fri 25, 8pm: The closing ceremony of Yehia Khalil Jazz Music Festival. Sat 26, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Sun 27, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble. Mon 28-Wed 30, 8pm: Pianist Omar Khayrat. *Open-Air Theatre Thur 24, 8pm: Basata band. Mon 28, 6pm: The Cairo Opera House Children Choir, conducted by maestro Selim Sahab. *Small Hall Thur 24, 8pm: Yehia Khalil Jazz Music Festival. Fri 25, 8pm: The Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád 4 countries presents The New Age Ensemble plays the works of Central European composers: Antonin Dvorak'sTerzetto Op.74, Jan Kletzynski: String trio Op.4 nr. 1, Leo Weiner's String trio Op. 6 nr. 1, Ernő Dohnányi's Serenade Op.10. Interpreters: Nora Ritner (violin), Robert Ritne (viola), Mohamed Salah (cello). Sat 26, 8pm: Direct airing from the Metropolitan opera presenting Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte opera. Sun 27, 8pm: Piano and cello recital by Mirette Hanna. Mon 28, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Wed 30, 8pm: Amani Suleiman features a chamber music concert.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St with Al-Azhar, Tel 2514 7475 every Sat, Mon & Wed, (8pm, free admission) Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
Al-Ghouri Dome 111 Al-Azhar St, Al-Ghouriya, Tel 2506 0227 Thur 24-Fri 25, 8pm: The closing ceremony of the 2nd International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts. Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 2390 7707 Thur 24-Fri 25, 8pm: Yehia Khalil Jazz Music Festival.
The International Music Centre Manasterly Palace,1 Al-Malek Al-Saleh St, Al-Roda Island, Manial, Tel 2363 1467 *The Royal Hall Sun 27, 8pm:Jazz Quartet plays compositions by Claude Bolling.
Makan 1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878 Every Tuesday, 8pm: 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, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah.
El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 50995354 *Al Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thur 24, 8pm: Al-Tanbura troupe.
El Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, underneath the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 *River Hall Sun 27, 7pm: Singing recital by Emad Kamal. Mon 28, 7pm: Al Leil Wa Al-Mawal, a classical Arab music concert, led by Rafaat Youssri. Wed 30, 6pm: For the first time on the International Day of Jazz, the largest number of Egyptian drummers perform in one hall. *Wisdom Hall Thur 24-Sat 26, 7pm: The first Nile Rock Festival (NRF). Sun 27, 7.30pm: Taqaseemband plays classical Arab music. Wed 30, 8pm: Singer Ali Al-Haggar features a classical Arab music concert.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thur 24, 8pm: Yehia Khalil Jazz Music Festival. Fri 25, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing. Mon 28-Wed 30, 8pm: TheKnightsofthe OrientforHeritagedancetroupepresents Al-Zabaq (The Mercury) show.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 *Main Hall Sat 26, 7pm: Wasla band. *Small Hall Thur 24, 7pm: Zaman band.
