Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 28, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Fri 29, 8pm: Shomouaa band, led by Said Osman, plays classical Arab songs. Sun 1, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi plays the songs of Abdel-Wahab. Wed 4, 8pm: Singing recital by Karma and Hossam.
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.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 28 (12pm and 8pm) and Fri 29 (8pm): The 4th India by the Nile Festival presents the internationally acclaimed theatrical production “Love Story: A Bollywood Musical”. The show is a celebration of Indian music, dance, theatre and visual arts. Highlights of the show include gorgeous colours and exotic costumes, spectacular fight sequences, a tear-jerking romance and show-stopping songs — love ballads and full-bodied raucous numbers — all choreographed into stunning dance routines by the famous French artist Gilles Chuyen. Sat 30, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra in a repertoire of international classics. Sun 1, 8pm: Celebrating the Spring, the Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by Ahmed Amer and featuring singer Hani Shaker. Open-Air Theatre Thurs 28, 8pm: The Sphinx Orchestra, conducted by Hani Hassan. Fri 29, 8pm: Sahr Al-Sharq (Charm of the Orient) band featuring singer Bilal Al-Sheikh. Small Hall Fri 29, 8pm:Boughdadi band, led by Magdi Boughdadi, plays classical Arab songs. Sat 30, 8pm: Strauss's “Electra” opera, performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, is rebroadcast. Tues 3, 8pm: Violin recital by Hossam Shehata. Thurs 5, 8pm: A duo piano recital by Amany Mounir and Omnia Ezzeddin.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 28, 10.30pm: It's party time with Amro and the Big Bang Boogie band for some perfect electro, funk, disco, Latin and swing treats.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Sat 30, 8pm: The 4thIndia by the Nile Festival presents Indian dancer Dona Ganguly and her group. Thurs 5 and Fri 6, 8pm: Fursan Al-Sharq lil Turaath wa Al-Raqs Al-Hadith (Knights of the Orient for Heritage and Modern Dance) company presents “Al-Waly” (The Prefect) show.
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-Tanourawhirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
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 Abbass 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 30A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 28, 8pm: Al-Kafafa troupe from Upper Egypt, led by singer Abdel-Wahed Al-Banna, performs the ancient Egyptian art of kafafa (palm clapping). Still found in Upper Egypt, palm clapping dates back to the days of the pharaohs.
Misr Opera House Al-Motamayez District, next to Dar Al-Fouad Hospital, 6th of October City, Giza, Tel 010 9444 4273/4/5-16828 Thurs 28, 8pm: A singing recital by pop singer Medhat Saleh.
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 28, 7pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi singer Amer Al-Toni, performs Sufi songs and dances. Sun 1, 6pm: Black Theama band presents a mix between reggae, rap, jazz, blues, rap, funk and Nubian music, all presented in the slang language taken from the Egyptian streets. Thurs 5, 8pm: Massar Egbary band in a repertoire of contemporary Egyptian songs. Wisdom Hall Thurs 28, 7pm:TheCulturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late singer Fariod Al-Atrash, performing a number of his best-loved songs. Fri 29, 8pm: A concert featuring singer and composerMaye Abdel-Aziz. Sat 30, 8pm: Hekayat band, led by singer and lute player Shady Mo'nes, performs original songs in an Eastern style combined with Latin percussions, and also the songs of famous singers such as Sayed Darwish and Sheikh Imam. The band's members are Shady Mo'nes (lute/singing), Ayman Sedqi (percussions), Ahmed Abdel-Sattar (violin) and John Waheed (flute). Wed 4, 7.30pm: Sayed Darwish Heritage troupe, led by Mohamed Sayed Darwish, plays much-loved songs by the late composer and singer Sayed Darwish. Thurs 5, 6 and 8.30pm: TheCulturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late diva Um Kolthoum, performing two of her best songs. Word Hall Thur 28, 8.30pm: “Al-Farah” (The Wedding), a stand-up comedy show featuring Walid Abul-Magd.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 28, 8pm: Oriental jazz by Yehia Khalil. Fri 29, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble plays Abdel-Halim songs. Sat 30, 8pm: Clarinist Hoda Hosni and her band in a repertoire of classical Arab songs by the likes of Laila Murad, Abdel-Hafez, Abdel-Wahab and Fayrouz. Tues 3 (8pm) and Wed 4 (12pm and 8pm): The 4thIndia by the Nile Festival presents the internationally acclaimed theatrical production “Love Story: A Bollywood Musical.” Thurs 5, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, features singerMedhat Saleh and pianist Amr Selim.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 483 9999 Sat 30, 8pm: The 4thIndia by the Nile Festival presents the Indian Ocean band, a pioneering fusion rock group that combines raga (traditional Indian tunes) with rock music, guitars and drums, and Indian folk songs.
