Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Sun 8, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble performs classical Arab music.
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 Thurs 5, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble plays songs of late singer Abdel-Halim Hahez. Sat 7, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra in a repertoire of compositions by Dvořák. Tues 10-Fri 13, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company and Orchestra present “The Masquerade” opera. Open-air Theatre Thurs 5, 8pm: Singing recital by Wahid Mamdouh. Small Hall Thurs 5, 8pm: A duo oud recital by Dina Abdel-Hamid and Ghassan Al-Yousef. Sun 8, 8pm: A performance of Croatian music and dance. Mon 9, 8pm: Piano recital by Marcel Matta. Tues 10, 8pm: Celebrating Al-Asraa wa Al-Maaraj (Prophet Mohamed's Ascension to Heaven), Al-Enshad Al-Dini (Religious Chanting) troupe performs religious songs. Thurs 12, 8pm: Oriental jazz by Yehia Khalil and his band.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 5, 10.30pm: A concert to mark International Jazz Day featuring the internationally acclaimed Arthur Satyan, better known as the “Dean of Jazz Musicians” in Lebanon. One of the most important and influential jazz musicians in the region, Satyan will be accompanied by phenomenal Lebanese drummer Fouad Afra and local renowned talents, Lebanese bassist Andre Segone and Egyptian bass sensation Ahmed Nazmi. Fri 6, 10pm: The Lab band is back, featuring the expert dance scientists Hafez and Abou Samra.
Darb 1718 Kasr Al-Shama'e St, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2361 0511 Fri 6, 8pm: Bahgaga (joy) band performs contemporary monologues and joyful songs. Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 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. Thurs 12, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, performs the songs of Abdel-Wahab
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.
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 30 A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 5, 8pm: Al Tanbura troupe revives the musical heritage of Port Said. Sat 7, 8pm: The Zar Masters band is comprised of some of the few remaining Egyptian and Sudanese Zar performers (some of them are members of Rango band), playing the tanbura, the toza ( small 2 sides percussion) the mangour, a wide belt of goat hooves worn around the hips), the Marakesh (hand-held rattles) and the tambourine.
Misr Opera House Al-Motamayez District, next to Dar Al-Fouad Hospital, 6th of October City, Giza, Tel 010 9444 4273/4/5. For reservation of tickets call 16828 Thurs 26, 8pm: A recital by pop singer Angham performing a collection of her much-loved songs and songs from her latest hit album.
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 5, 8pm: Massar Egbary band in a repertoire of contemporary Egyptian songs. Sat 7, 7.30pm: Sufi songs performed by munshid (religious chanter) Ali El-Helbawi. Sun 8, 8pm: A classical Arab music concert featuring singer Emad Abdel-Aziz. Mon 9, 6.30pm: “The First Chance,” a concert that gives members of the audience a chance to take part in the Culturewheel talent show, to perform on stage for the first time. Wisdom Hall Thurs 5, 6 and 8.30pm: The Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late diva Um Kolthoum, performing two of her most-loved songs. Fri 6, 7pm: Muricata, Omar Samra's new arm for experiential youth learning division is launching “Kidathon,” Cairo's biggest kids' marathon, on 6 May in Zamalek. Sponsored by the real estate company Inertia, 300 children aged between six and 14 are expected to participate in the “Kidathon,” which is planned to become an annual event. Prizes will be awarded to 18 winners at El Sawy Culturewheel, the event's venue. Other activities include family yoga classes, arts and crafts, adventure games and activities and, to conclude the day, a performance by the Cairokee band. Sat 7, 7pm: Comedino Team group presents an evening of stand-up comedy, featuring Mahytab Osama, Ahmed Hossam, Mido, Islam Abdel-Sattar and Hossam Khaled. Sun 8, 8pm: Religious chanting by singer Adnan Al-Sasa. Wed 11, 7.30pm: A classical Arab music concert with singer Mahmoud Abu-Khadra. Thurs 12, 8pm: Khayal band plays Arabian rock.
Sound and Light Theatre The Sphinx Sq, Al-Haram, Giza Pyramids Thurs 26: A spectacular night with Chris de Burgh live at the Pyramids (tickets are available at 48 Al-Thawra St, Dokki; for information call 02 3338 1199).
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Fri 29, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs Abdel-Halim songs. Thurs 5, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, presents a two-part concert. The first part features singers Ghada Adam, Mustafa Al-Nagdi and Rehab Omar in a programme of classical Arab songs by the likes of the late composers Zakariya Ahmed, Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and Farid Al-Atrash. The grand finale will present pop singer Medhat Saleh and pianist Amr Selim performing a number of Saleh's much-loved songs and songs of the late diva Um Kulthoum. Fri 6, 8pm: The 4th India by the Nile Festival presents an Odissi dance recital by Indian dancer Dona Ganguly and her group. Sun 8, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra in a programme of compositions by Dvořák. Thurs 12, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing.
