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 29, Mon 3, Tues 4, Wed 5, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company, directed by Erminia Kamel and the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui, together with set designer Mahmoud Haggag, choreographer and director Valentin Yelizariev present the ballet “Spartacus.” Sat 1, 8pm: Under the title “Tchaikovsky's Great Symphonies (I)”, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Ahmed Al-Saedi and in collaboration with the Austrian Cultural Centre in Cairo will present a concert performing Mozart's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" as well as works by Beethoven. Sun 2, 8pm: The Cairo Opera House celebrates the hegira calendar. Thurs 6, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab music songs. Small Hall Thurs 29, 8pm: A singing recital by Ahmed Shamma. Sat 1, 8pm: Pianist Fathi Salama and his Sharqiat band in a programme of east-meets-west compositions.
Darb 1718 Kasr El Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2361 0511 Fri 30, 7.30pm: An African Day aims at celebrating the African heritage and connect together through one language which is art. It is full of activities such as African handcrafts, film screenings, bazaar, henna drawing, drum circle, and musical performances. Programme of the day: African music performance by Asia Madani, Rango band, Senet and AfriCairo drumming workshop-outcome performance as well as serving Ethiopian & Eritrean food.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music (Performances every Sat, Mon and Wed, 8pm, free admission).
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Fri 30, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab music and 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 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 29, 9pm: To all lovers of genuine folk art, with Rango. On this night you will meet top Egyptian- Sudanese musicians, they focus on performing the musical heritage of Sudan with Hassan Bergamon on the unique rango, the artist, Essam Tutu, along with the pentatonic simisimya and a group of singers of Sudanese origin. All of this and more will be presented on this special night. Sat, 1 October, 9pm: Asyad El Zar troupe will present its monthly performances, 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.
Al-Muaaz Street Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex, for information and ticket reservations call 010 0488 8479/011 5876 7774 Fri 23, 9.30am-4pm: Al-Muaaz Street Carnival, the day opens with performances by Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes, Mizmar band playing folk music on Egyptian oriental instruments and Hassaballah band (the oldest Egyptian folk music band). Visitors can also tour the area's landmarks, including Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex, the mosque and the school of the Mameluke Sultan Al-Zaher Barquq.
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 29, 7pm: A stand-up comedy by Ali Qandil. Fri 30, 8pm: Ayamna Al-Helwa band in a repertoire of old songs. Sun 2, 8pm: Andromida, the oldest rock band in Egypt plays the 1970's classic rock. Mon 3, 8pm: A concert of Sufi chanting by Basma Al-Andalus band. Thurs 6, 7pm: “Al-Moulid”, a stand-up comedy show features Walid Abul-Magd. Wisdom Hall Thurs 29, 8.30pm: Hesham Kharma, along with his band will play music fusion adding electronic music to his compositions. In the concert, Kharma is shared by Mostafa Sami (flute), Mahmoud Dessouqi (lute), Nesma Herki (vocals), Yasmin Sami (violin) and Mostafa Latif (percussion). Fri 30, 5&8.30pm: “Melodies Fusion”, a concert presented by Abydos Symphony Orchestra, conducted by George Kolta featuring soprano Dalia Farid Fadel with guest artist baritone George Gamal, Lila Al-Messiry on trumpet and violinist Aziz George playing masterpieces by the likes of Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, Farid Al-Atrash and George Kolta. Tues 4, 7pm: Masr band in a repertoire of classical Arab songs. Thurs 6, 6 & 8pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concert of legendary singer Um Kolthoum playing two of her best songs.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 29, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi in a repertoire of Umm Kulthoum songs. Sun 2, 8pm: Under the title “Tchaikovsky's Great Symphonies (I)”, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Ahmed Al-Saedi and in collaboration with the Austrian Cultural Centre in Cairo will present a concert performing Mozart's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" as well as works by Beethoven. Wed 5, 8pm: Sharaa Al-Fan (Art Street) band.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Small Hall Tues 4, 7pm: A concert features singer Osama Al-Hady.
