Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Sat 19, 8pm: “Serenade,” a concert of Greek music featuring singer Giorgis Christodoulou performing a selection of old love songs, accompanied by George Schoinas on piano and accordion. Sun 20, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, plays songs of the late singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. Thurs 24, 8pm: A piano recital by the Austrian pianist Ana Magdalena.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: 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, 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.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Fri 18, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi and featuring Syrian singer Safwan Bahlawan, performs a number of songs by the late singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. Fri 18, 3pm and Sat 19, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Austrian maestro Christoph-Mathias Mueller and featuring violinist Yasser Al-Serafi, presents a Spring Concert of selected compositions from operas by Offenbach, Bizet, Rossini, Brahms and Massenet. Mon 21, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Small Hall Thurs 17, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Fri 18, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Orchestra presents a concert of chamber music. Sat 19, 8pm: Pianist Fathi Salama, accompanied by his Sharqiat band, plays East-meets-West compositions. Sun 20, 8pm: Sharara Sextet. Mon 21, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Tues 22, 8pm: The Egyptian Piano Quartet concert. Wed 23, 8pm: A piano recital by Haitham Ibrahim. Thurs 24, 8pm: Oriental jazz by Yehia Khalil and his band.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza. Tel 02 3345 9939 Sat 19, 10.30pm: Eftekasat band, with its special fusion of jazz, blues, Latin, funk and oriental sounds, offers a unique and diverse musical experience. Sun 20, 10.30pm: Italian singer Eleonora and her all-star band deliver another breathtaking show with their rhythmic Latin jazz. Tues 21, 10pm: Mohasseb turns us into a mob of raving dancers, bringing us onto our feet with his uplifting progressive house selections.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 every Sat, Mon and Wed, (9.30pm, free admission) Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdeen, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 17, 8pm: Awtar (Strings) band, led by Amr Abdel-Moneim, perform a selection of classical Arab 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.
Al-Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 17, 8pm: Mazamer Al-Nil band is made up of of talented musicians and singers from Upper Egypt. They play a wide range of instruments, including the rababa (spike fiddle), the kawala (end-blown flute) and the arghul (double pipe, single-reed woodwind). Their songs celebrate Upper Egyptian culture, the lyrics speaking of love and marriage, the beauty of nature, birthdays and circumcisions.
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 Thurs 17, 8pm: Anwar Al-Mustafa (Lights of Prophet Mohamed) troupe, led by munshid (Sufi chanter) Abdel-Halim Agam, performs religious songs. Fri 18, 8pm: Ayamna Al-Helwa (Our Lovely Days) band, led by Mohamed Osman, plays songs from the Egyptian musical heritage. Sat 19, 10am-7pm: Celebrating Mother's Day, a selection of different dance styles, including Zumba, salsa and flamenco, will be performed, in addition to yoga and other entertainments. Wisdom Hall Fri 18, 8pm: A wind instrument group recital. Sat 19, 6pm: A stand-up comedy show. Tues 22, 7pm: Al-Fan Al-Sadeq (The Authentic Art) band performs classical Arab songs.
Sound & Light Theatre The Sphinx Sq, Al-Haram, Giza Pyramids Sat 19 March, 8pm: For the first time in Egypt, the one and only Ibrahim Maalouf, world-renowned Lebanese-French trumpet player, performs a concert of his celebrated music, widely listened to by oriental jazz music lovers.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 17, 8pm: The Alexandria Sporting Club's Sayed Darwish Choir commemorates the 124th anniversary of the death of the singer and composer Sayed Darwish, performing a number of his best-known works. Fri 18, 8pm: Composer Emad Al-Sharouni plays his own compositions as well as East-meets-West compositions. Sun 20, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra concert. Mon 21, 8pm: The Greek music concert “Serenade” presents singer Giorgis Christodoulou in a programme of old love songs, accompanied by George Schoinas on piano and accordion. Tues 22, 8pm: A recital by Austrian pianist Ana Magdalena. Thurs 24, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, plays songs by the late singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria, Tel 03 4839999 Main Hall Fri 18, 7pm: “Lions of Cairo: Majesty, Mystery and Medieval Jazz”, a concert of classical Arab compositions, Byzantine music, and sacred and secular medieval tunes from Western Europe and the Mediterranean. Small Hall Sat 19, 7pm: Al-Hezb Al-Comedy (The Comic Party) features Elno Morgan and Mohamed Al-Talents in a stand-up comedy show (children under 6 years of age are not allowed). Wed 23, 7pm: “Raison d'Etre”, a dance performance by the Silsilah Dance Company, choreography and staging by Georgia Moffa (children under 6 years of age are not allowed).
