The 8th edition of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) was announced by Ahmed El-Attar, D-CAF's Artistic Director and Performing Arts Curator on Sunday in a press conference. During the conference, Attar has highlighted how the festival has been developing during the past eight years, thanks to the high-quality international performances that have attracted a lot of audience. In this respect, he stressed how the audience pool has become as variable as the performances such that D-CAF's audience cannot be categorized. He has unraveled what the 8th edition holds by starting with Horizon by Shaymaa Shoukry, a first 100% inclusive dance performance which combines D-CAF's interest in arts and disability with the fact of being an urban (outdoor) performance. Another interesting performance is Without Damage by Mohamed Fouad who is a well-acclaimed Egyptian artist, having his performance toured in many European countries. D-CAF's artistic director has gone further to refer to the uniqueness of this year's Music programme as it offers a condensed package for all music tastes. El-Attar said that this year includes an all-women concert, featuring T-sisters band, an Indie-American folk, who will be collaborating with Sherine Abdo. The concert will have also Massive Scar Era, an Egyptian-Canadian band, as well as the Egyptian-Nubian rising singer, Maram who has her first video clip with approximately 2 million viewers on Youtube. The program continues with another concert focusing on rap, techno shaabi like Wegz and 3 Faaz.
Falaki Theatre AUC Tahrir Cultural Centre, Tahrir Square Sat 30 (7pm) and Sun 31 (8pm): Dust, a music theatre, opera, puppetry and performance by Sew Flunk Fury Wit company (Denmark). It is directed by performer, puppet developer Svend E. Kristensen, featuring soprano Regina Unnur Olafsdottir, lyricist Neill Furio, composer Peter Moller with direction and concept by Jesper Pedersen (English with Arabic Subtitles).
Rawabet Theatre 3 Hussien El Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Basiouny St., from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown Wed 3 and Thurs 4, 8pm: Tesbah Ala Kheir, a contemporary theatre (France/Egypt), a project by Duncan Evennou and Lancelot Hamelin in collaboration with Benoit Verjat and Adham Hafez, directed by Duncan Evennou and written by Lancelot Hamelin. It features actors Nagui Shehata, Mona Gamil, Lamia Gouda, Ali Sobhy, technical director Mido Sadek, dramaturgy and cultural mediation by Adham Hafez, light designer Patrick Laffont-DeLojot (Arabic with English Subtitles). ____________________________________________
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 28, 8pm: Arab music concert features singer Ghada Adam. Fri 29, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Children Choir concert. Sun 31, 8pm: A concert of Umm Kolthoum songs. Thurs 4, 8pm: Classical Arab music songs performed by singer Rehab Omar.
The American University in Cairo New Cairo Campus Malak Gabr Arts Theatre Sat 30, 5.30pm: Die Walküre opera by Richard Wagner Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Beit Al-Harrawi (The Arab Oud House) Mohamed Abdu St, behind Al-Azhar Mosque, Tel 02 2510 4174 Sat 30, 8pm: Singer Sameh Abdel-Aziz and his band.
Beit Al-Seheimi Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865 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, 8.30pm: “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. Thurs 28, 8pm: Sufi chanting by Gawad Al-Shari and his band.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 28 and Fri 29, 8pm: A gala concert featuring highlights of the most famous musicals and Napolitano songs, including Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Les Miserables presented by the Cairo Opera Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by maestro Hisham Gabr with the artistic supervision of Iman Moustafa, set designer Mohamed Abdel-Razek and directed by Hisham El-Taly. Sat 30, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents "Young Violinists, Great Talents" concert, conducted by maestro Ahmed Atef and featuring violinists Jana Samir and Rana Abdel-Wahab performing masterpieces by L.V. Beethoven, T. A. Vitali, G. Bizet and others. Sun 31, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs Abdel-Halim Hafez's songs. Tues 2, 8pm: A concert by musician Emad Al-Sharouny. Wed 3, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra performs composer Rageh Dawoud's compositions. Thurs 4 and Fri 5, 8pm: Flamenco performance by Ursula Lobez (Spain).
Open-Air Theatre Thurs 28, 8pm: Oshaq Al Naghan band, led by Mohamed Abdel-Sattar. Fri 29, 8pm: Jazz fusion by Ahmed Rabie and his band. Tues 2, 8pm: The Conservatoire Orchestra for Wind and Percussion instrument. Wed 3, 8pm: The 7th Damanhour International Folklore Festival. Thurs 4, 8pm: Percussionist Nesma Abdel-Aziz performs on marimba, accompanied by her band. Small Hall Sat 30, 8pm: Die Walküre opera by Richard Wagner Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Sun 31, 8pm: Chamber music concert features Mohamed Hamdy. Mon 1, 8pm: A duo piano recital by Omniya Ezzeddin and Amany Mounir. Tues 2, 8pm: Chamber music by Amany Suleiman. Thurs 4, 8pm: Chamber music concert features violinist Khaled Al-Shweikh.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Fri 29, 10.30pm: Jazz music by Ahmed Eid.
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, 7.30pm).
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 4, 8pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini troupe in a repertoire of classical Arab songs.
Makan Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday, 7pm: (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.
Al-Manar International Conference Centre New Cairo Fri 29, 5pm: And the wait is finally over! superstar Mohamed Ramadan, for the first time in Egypt will be performing live on stage to celebrate the success of his songs with his fans in the biggest concert in Egypt. El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 50995354 Al Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 28, 8pm: Rango band features their first concert after the great success in Arabs Got Talent in its sixth season in MBC channel. Every Saturday, 8pm: (fixed event) Asyad Al-Zar (The Zar Masters) band. The Zar Masters band is comprised of some of the few remaining Egyptian and Sudanese Zar performers playing Tanbura, Toza (small 2 sides percussion) Mangour, (a wide belt of goat hooves worn around the hips), Marakesh (hand-held rattles) and the 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 Thurs 28, 7pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya Troupe, led by Sufi chanter Amer Al-Toni, performs Sufi dances and chants. Sun 31 , 7pm: Charisma band. Tues 2, 8pm: Religious, love and patriotic songs performed by Mohamed Al-Alaily in a concert conducted by maestro Mazen Deraz. Wisdom Hall Thurs 28, 7pm: Contemporary Egyptian songs by Badrawy. Mon 1 , 7.30pm: Sultan Al-Aarfeen band, on stage together with Banat Al-Aarfeen band, which consists of 9 girls, performing religious songs. Thurs 4, 6 and 8pm: El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of diva Umm Kolthoum performing two of her best songs.
Talaat Harb Cultural Centre Al-Sayyeda Nafissa St, Zeinhom area, Tel 02 2362 2647/ 2362 8174 Fri 29, 1pm: “The Giving” celebration includes Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel (The Shadow Puppet) show, Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes and parts of the National circus shows.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) 22 Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Al-Horiyya Road, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 28, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing. Tues 2, 8pm: Alexandria Opera String Orchestra, conducted by Magdy Boghdady. Wed 3, 8pm: The 7th Damanhour International Folklore Festival.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Small Hall Sat 30, 6.55pm: Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
