Amir Taz Palace 27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 02 2514 2581 Thurs 2, 5pm: TheShoubra Al-Khema Folk Arts troupe performs a dance show, accompanied by theShoubra Al-Khema Arab Music Ensemble.
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Fri 3, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab songs. Sat 4, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company presents a gala concert.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm and 9.30pm during Ramadan: 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 and 9.30pm during Ramadan: “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 Sat 4, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents a concert titled “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra”,performed by the Hungarian Flutist Péter Oláh.The concert is the first release of the piece composed specially for the flutist by Mohamed Ali Farag. Open-Air Theatre Thurs 2, 8pm: Al-Awala Baladi band plays contemporary Egyptian songs. Small Hall Thurs 2, 8pm: Singer Yasmine Al-Harbi and her band. Fri 3, 8pm: Excerpts from “The Swan Lake” ballet presented for children, directed by Evan Ahmed.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 2, Sat 3 and Fri 4, 8pm: The Modern Dance Theatre Company presents “Deeper Than It Seems”, directed by Monadel Antar. Thurs 9, 9.30pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, performs Abdel-Wahab and Um Kulthoum songs.
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 30 A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 2, 9pm: Al-Tanbura troupe from Port Said performs folk dances and music. Sat 4, 9pm: Asyad Al-Zar (The Zar Masters) band plays healing music. The band is made up of some of the few remaining Egyptian and Sudanese Zar performers who play the tanbura, toza (a small two-sided percussion instrument), mangour (a wide belt of goat hooves worn around the hips), marakesh (hand-held rattles) and tambourine.
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 3, 7pm: Al-Mawlawiya Al-Masreya (The Egyptian Mawlawiya) troupe, led by Sufi singer Amer Al-Toni, performing Sufi dances and songs. Thurs 9, 7pm: Al-Hadra group for Sufi chanting. Wisdom Hall Thurs 2, 6 and 8pm: “Um Kulthoum is Back on Stage,” El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre revives the concerts of late diva Um Kulthoum, performing two of her best songs. Fri 3, 8pm: Pop singer Alaa Abdel-Khaleq sings his much-loved songs. Sat 4, 8pm: The Yalla Naghany (Let's Sing) band, led by singer Mustafa Hussein, performs classical Arab songs. All concert revenues will be donated to charity projects. Sun 5, 7.30pm: Sufi and religious chanting by the Hemmah (Well) group. Wed 8, 10pm: The Egybadour band playsEastern and Western music with an Indian and Latin touch. Founded by Egyptian musician Mohamed Abu- Zeid, the band features two of his French friends who live in Egypt, oud playerBertrand Mahiou and clarinettist Etienne Porhel. Thurs 9, 10pm: The Mawlayensemblesings Sufi poems. ALEXANDRIA Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 2 and Fri 3, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and theCairo Opera Orchestra present the “Cinderella” ballet. Sat 4, 8pm:Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra concert. Thurs 9, 9.30pm: A performance by the Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing.
