Food of the soul “Some types of music live for seconds; others live for eternity — like Tchaikovsky's music, because he sought perfection in his work. I grew up with his music and I have lived with it ever since I visited his home in Moscow.” Thus the Russian Ambassador Serge Kirpichenko, in his speech at the Cairo Opera House garden marking the 175th anniversary of the composer of The Nutcracker, reports Mai Samih. The event featured violinist Ebada Ahmed playing Tchaikovsky and children from the Russian school placing roses on a statue of Tchaikovsky. Present were the Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Cairo Alexander Balenko, the Dean of the Conservatoire Hassan Sharara and the Chairman of the Russian Universities Graduates in Egypt Sherif Gad. On the occasion of Europe Day, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt James Moran and Mrs Randa Moran gave a reception at their residence in Zamalek. Present were Minister of Health Adel Adawi, Chairman of the Board of the French Chamber Mahmoud Al-Qeissi, Libyan Ambassador Mohamed Fayez Gebriel and his Jordanian counterpart Bishr Al-Khasawena, Greek Ambassador Chris Lazaris, Iraqi Ambassador Diaa Al-Dabbas, Tunisian Ambassador Mahmoud Al-Khoumeri, British Ambassador John Casson, German Ambassador Hansjörg Haber, Romanian Ambassador Cornel Alecse as well as Swiss Ambassador Markus Leitner, Hungarian Ambassador Peter Kveck and Polish Ambassador Michal Murkociński. Marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Egypt, the Korean Ambassador Chung Kwang-Kyun gave a reception at the Conrad hotel, the Pack of Cards editor Reham El-Adawi reports. The event featured the Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra playing traditional Korean music and a contemporary dance show by the Drifterz company, in addition to a Korean barbecue. Present were Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmi, Minister of Culture Abdel-Wahed Al-Nabawi, Minister of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements Laila Iskander, psychiatrist Manal Omar and actress Youssra. In addition to Chinese Ambassador Song Aiguo, Japanese Ambassador Toshiro Suzuki, Vietnamese Ambassador Dao Thanh Chang and Conrad General Manager Jean-Pierre Mainard. The Centre for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA), now based at Harvard University, is returning to the American University in Cairo (AUC) during the 2015-2016 academic year. Part of AUC for nearly 50 years, the programme had relocated to Jordan for two years. “AUC is an ideal home for CASA,” said Nevenka Korica, CASA director at Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies. “It is the only institution in the world that has been offering a high-quality master's program in teaching Arabic as a foreign language for decades.” Minister of Culture Abdel-Wahed Al-Nabawi and Head of the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces Mohamed Abdel-Hafez Nassef opened the Youth Cinema Festival (16-21 May), directed by Abdel-Nasser Al-Gameli and held at the Cairo Opera House Cinema Hall. With director Omar Abdel-Aziz as its guest of honour, this round is entitled “I Dream of Tomorrow”. Photographers Mohamed Shafik and Ahmed Al-Morsi, interior designer Mahmoud Mohsen, film editor Youssef Al-Malakh and actors Nour Al-Sherif, Sanaa Shafei, Abdel-Rahman Abu Zahra, Yehia Al-Fakharani, Karima Mokhtar, Sabri Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed Fouad Selim, Khaled Al-Sawi, Leqaa Al-Khomaisi, Mohsen Mansour, Hassan Al-Raddad and Nesreen Amin were honoured for their contributions. The Anti-Addiction Fund headed by Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb opened the conference, “The National Plan to Decrease the Demand on Usage and Addiction to Drugs.” Present were 11 representatives of various ministries. After an analysis revealed that 15.5 percent of Ramadan television scenes last year included smoking and drug use, an agreement committing directors to limiting such material was signed. An initiative of the Nasser Social Bank to help former addicts, “A New Beginning”, was also launched. The Assuit Folk Dance troupe performed at the reception given by the Paraguay Embassy Counsellor Gustavo Miranda at the Marriott Hotel to celebrate the 204th anniversary of the independence of Paraguay. Among those present was Mona Abdel-Nasser, the daughter of the late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser. The Black and White Foundation celebrated its launch with a concert that was organised in Up Town Cairo in Al Mokattam featuring Tunisian singer Ghalia Bin Ali, artist Ahmed Essam, violinist Ahmed Mokhtar, DJ Waleed Al-Harriri and fashion designer Samah Mahran. Present were Oriental dancer Dina and actress Noha Al-Amrousi.
