Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 25, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company, featuring pianist Greig Martin, presents excerpts from famous operas, directed by Abdallah Saad. Fri 26, 8pm: Shmouaa (Candles) band, led by Said Osman,plays classical Arab songs. Sun 28, 8pm: The National Arab Music ensemble plays songs of the late singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: TheNile 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: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muiz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Beit Al-Sinnari Mongue Ally, Behind Al-Saneya Secondary School, Al-Sayeda Zeinab Square, Cairo, Tel 02 2390 9471 Thurs 3, 7pm: Beiba singing troupe, led by Kamal Al-Abnoudi, performs folk songs from Upper Egypt.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 25, Fri 26, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra present Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake” ballet. Sat 27, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestroAhmed Al-Saedi and featuring pianist Helene Tysman,plays Schumann's “Symphony No 2,” Ravel's “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” and works by Debussy. Sun 28, 8pm: Egypt Voice Orchestra, conducted by Ahmed Atef, features singers Hanan Madi and Ali Al-Haggar. Mon 29, 8pm:Munich Percussion Orchestra (Germany). Small Hall Thurs 25, 8pm: The Supreme Institute for Music (Conservatoire). Fri 26, 8pm: Violin recital byHossam Shehata. Sun 28, 8pm: Electronic music played by Mohamed Abdel-Fattah.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 25, 10.30pm:Acoustic by Danny Malak and Hassan Ramzy. Screwdriver band is back to make us move to their funk pop dance groove. Sat 27, 10.30pm: Wust Al-Balad band's impeccable combination of authentic Arab music with modern twists and catchy, meaningful lyrics has taken them well beyond the city's borders and made them one of Egypt's most admired bands. Sun 28, 10.30pm: Sultry jazz vocalist Michelle Rounds takes us back to a jazz era of glitz and glamour, cementing her position as the jazz diva in the city.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 every Sat, Mon & Wed, (9.30pm, free admission) Al-Tanourawhirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 25, 8pm: Mashrabiat band features singer Sayed Al-Refaai in a programme of classical Arab songs. Fri 26, 6pm: Piano and violin recital for children. Sun 28, 8pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini troupe plays religious songs.
The Greek Campus 28 Falaki St, Bab Al-Louk, Downtown, Cairo, Tel 010 9032 2400/ 02 2795 2325/ 2795 2119 Thurs 25, 8.30pm: Egyptian songwriter, accordionist and singer Youssra Al-Hawary, accompanied by her band, performs “Babtesem” (I Smile) from the soundtrack of the Factory Girl film, among other 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 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 25, 8pm:Zar and Sufi music and singing performed by Abul Gheit Darawish (Dervishes) band which provides a spiritual experience, together withtanura dance (Egyptian version of the whirling dervishes), an exciting fusion of Egyptian folk art.
Must Opera House Inside Misr University for Science & Technology, Al-Motamayez District, next to Dar Al-Fouad Hospital, extension of 26th of July Spine, 6th of October City,Giza, Tel 0109 444 4273/5 Fri 4 March, 8pm: Diva Samira Said will sing songs from her latest hit album, Aayza Aaish (I Want to Live), as well as earlier popular songs.
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 Fri 26, 7pm:Piano recital byOmar Khayrat. Sat 27, 7pm: Massar Egbari band. Sun 28, 6pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show recreates the concerts of pop singer Mohamed Mounir. Tues 1, 7.30pm: A singing recital by stars of Star Academy Reality TV show Mohamed Shahin and Haidy Moussa. Thurs 3, 7pm: Singer Ahmed Saad in a repertoire of classical Arab songs. Wisdom Hall Mon 29 & Tues 1, 8pm: Oud recital by Nasseer Shamma. Wed 2, 7pm: Al-Meghanawateya band plays well-known classical Arab songs and unveils the hidden treasures of our oriental heritage. Thurs 3, 6 and 8pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late diva Um Kolthoum, performing two of her best-loved songs.
Sound & Light Theatre The Sphinx Sq, Al-Haram, Giza Pyramids Sat 19 March, 8pm: For the first time in Egypt, the one and onlyIbrahim Maalouf, world-renowned Lebanese-French trumpet player, will play his enchanting music widely listened to by all oriental jazz music lovers. [[TO BE REMOVED]]
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 25, 8pm:Jazz musician Yehia Khalil and his band feature a Canadian jazz singer in a repertoire of oriental and international jazz compositions. Fri 26, 8pm:Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing. Sun 28, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra. Tues 1 & Wed 2, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra present Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake” ballet.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria, Tel 03 4839999 Main Hall Fri 26, 7pm: Contemporary Egyptian songs played by the Massar Egbari band. Small Hall Thurs 25, 7pm: “Tram Alraml,” a musical composed and directed byMohamed Hosny with lyrics by Maysara Salaheddin (children under six years of age are not allowed).
