The Seventh Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) (8-29 March) The Greek Campus 28 Falaki St, Bab Al-Louk, Downtown, Cairo, Tel 010 90322400 Thurs 22, 8pm: French Lebanese Musician Bashar Mar-Khalifé performs contemporary Electronic Jazz fusion. Bit-Tuner band, Andrew Al-Hawary and Al-Swaisy perform Bass and Down tempo electronic techno music. Teklife band, Islam Chipsy and Sadat perform Indie Egyptian Folk and Sha'bi music. The line-up includes local, and international artists, who will celebrate the opening of the 4th edition of the Arab Arts Focus Programme, which will take part from 22 to 26 March within D-CAF's 7th edition (for more information about D-CAF programme go to www.d-caf.org)
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St. Tel 02 2574 3373 Fri 23, 8pm: Shaimaa Al-Shayeb and her band perform in an Arab singing concert. Sat 24, 8pm: Wanas Ensemble perform in an Arab music and singing concert led by Tarek Abbass. Sun 25, 8pm: A singing concert honours the memory of diva Umm Kolthoum.
The Arts-Mart Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Abu Rawash, 6th of October, Egypt, Cairo, 010 0077 3860 Fri 24, 9pm (doors close at 8.30pm): "Orchestra in Art", for the second year a cultural experience combining both the performing and visual arts. The event features the United Philharmonic Orchestra performing amidst a specially curated art exhibition at the gallery. A magical performance by the three international award-winning Egyptian tenors, living and performing in Europe, Hany Abdel-Zaher, Ragaa Al-Din and Amr Medhat for the first time on stage together and a full orchestra led by world renowned maestro Nader Abbassi.
Beit Al-Seheimi Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 7.30pm: 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, 7pm: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz 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 22, 8pm: Singer Riham Abdel-Hakim features a singing concert honours the memory of Umm Kolthoum. Sat 24, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra performs selections from international compositions. Mon 26 to Thurs 29, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Choir present “Bolero” and “Carmina Burana” ballets choreographed by Erminia Kamel and directed by Abdel-Moneim Kamel. Open-Air Theatre Thurs 22, 6pm: Alexandria Opera House Children Choir celebrates Mother's Day. Mon 26, 8pm: A concert features Tunisian singer and dancer Ghalia Binali. Small Hall Thurs 22, 8pm: Yehia Khalil and his band perform selections of his Jazz arrangements and authentic eastern sounds compositions of his own. Fri 23, 8pm: Chamber music recital by Ashraf Sharara. Sat 24, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre's concert. Sun 25, 8pm: Singing recital by soprano Nevine Alouba. Mon 26, 8pm: Violin and piano recital led by Yasser Al-Serafy. Tues 27, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre's concert. Thurs 29, 8pm: Chamber music recital by Amany Soliman.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 22, 10.30pm: Tunisian singer and dancer Ghalia Binali. Tues 27, 10.30pm: Taksir Sharqi band perform oriental songs.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 22, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Company in a gala concert. Fri 23, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs in music and singing concert. Sun 25, 8pm: Father Andrews Samuel Choir chants. Mon 26, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble concert. Wed 28, 8pm: Saghera A'la Al-Hob (Too young for love) operetta performed by the Opera Children Choir. Thurs 29, 8pm: A Religious Chanting Ensemble.
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, Tues and Wed, 7.30pm).
Makan SaadZaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday: (fixed event) Zikr and Sufi night. Every Tuesday, 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm and reservations is canceled at 7.30pm): 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, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher, featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sab.
El-Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 50995354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 22, 8pm: Mazamir Al-Nile band performs Upper Egyptian music on Mizmar.
Room Art Space 10 Etihad Al Mohamin, Garden City, Tel 01000 068 159 Fri 23, 9pm: Asia Madani performs Sudanese Folk songs. Thurs 29, 9pm: Shady Al-Qasser and Friends band perform live music and singing.
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 22, 7pm: Mustafa Atef in a religious chanting concert. Fri 23, 8pm: Egyptian Project band performs in an oriental Sufi and Jazz fusion concert. Sat 24, 7pm: Al-Mawlawiya Al-Masriya troupe, led by Sufi chanter Amer Al-Toni in a repertoire of Sufi songs and dances. Sun 25, 7pm: Sary Omar and Nas band perform together in an Arabic music and singing concert. Mon 26, 6.30pm: Waslet Samaa Ensemble for Sufi and religious chanting. Thurs 29, 7.30pm: A stand-up comedy show by Taha Dessouki, Mustafa Abbass, Reem Nabil, Hamza Bahaa, Mohamed Kamatcho, Mohamed Helmi, Ahmed Essam and Walid Al-Moghazi. Wisdom Hall Fri 23, 8pm: Soprano, dancer and actress Dalia Farid singing concert. Sat 24, 7.30pm: Hossana Choir for Orthodox hymns and chants. Tues 27, 8pm: Latino Zaman band led by Hekmat performs Egyptian classics and Latin beats fusions. Wed 28, 8.30pm: Ali Al-Haggar and his band monthly Arab singing concert. Thurs 29, 8pm: Arabish band singing concert.
ALEXANDRIA Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 29, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing concert.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Main Hall Sat 24, 7pm: Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra and Choir perform Mozart's “Requiem”, choir mastered by Rodica Ocheseanu and conducted by Shady Abdel-Salam. Thurs 29, 7pm: Bibliotheca Alexandrina Children Choir performs in a concert mastered by Rodica Ocheseanu.
