The 7th International Drums and Traditional Arts Festival (20-27 April) For the first time, Reda Folk Arts troupe, Circus and the National Folk Arts troupe will participate in this edition. For the first time, one of the activities of the festival will take place in Shoubra Al-Kheima. And that the guest of honor of the festival is the continent of Africa. This year's participating countries are Poland, Nigeria, Greece, Maldives, Mexico, Jordan, Colombia, Armenia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Burundi, India, Saudi Arabia, and Senegal. The closing ceremony will coincide with the Sinai holiday celebrations in which all countries will participate in one concert in addition to three Arab countries: Palestine, Syria and Sudan. The festival also offers a number of workshops. The concerts venues are the following: Salaheddin Citadel Salah Salem Rd, Mokattam, Cairo, Tel 02 2512 1735 Al-Ghouri Dome 111 Al-Azhar St, Al-Ghouriya, Tel 02 2506 0227 Al-Muiz Street Islamic Cairo Child Center of Civilization and Creativity Abou Bakr Al-Sedeek St, Al-Nozha, Heliopolis, Cairo, Tel 02 27714915, closes 7pm Al-Hanager Arts Centre Cairo Opera Complex, Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 25, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert. Sun 28, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab songs.
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.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Sat 27, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra concert. Sun 28, 8pm: Celebrating Easter, a concert will feature super star Angham. Wed 1 May, 8pm: Encounter of great artists performing classical music (Egypt/China). Thurs 2, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs classical Arab songs. Open-Air Theatre Thurs 25, 8pm: Mazeek band. Fri 26, 8pm: Gazagil band. Small Hall Thurs 25, 8pm: Viola recital by Mohamed Abu Arab. Fri 26, 8pm: Flute, marimba and harp recital. Tues 30, 8pm: Rock of Asia Japanese band features artists: Nikki Matsumoto (Biwa, Vocal), Yasuhisa Murase (Guitar), Kizen Ohyama (Shakuhachi), Yuki Ishii (Violin) and from Egypt Mohamed Saber (Guitar, Vocal). Wed 1, 8pm: Flute and harp recital by Safaa Abdel-Rahman and Amira Hamed respectively.
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 25, 8pm: Awtar band features Amr Abdel-Moneim. Fri 26, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Children Choir concert. Sun 28 and Mon 29, 8pm: “Sirina” performance by the Modern Dance Theatre Company.
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. El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 50995354 Al Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 25, 8pm: NubaNour band performs traditional Nubian music, dances, and songs. 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 25, 7.30pm: Singer Emad Kamal and Takhtista band. Fri 26, 7.30pm: Sufi chanting by Abo Shaar Brothers troupe from Syria. Sat 27, 8pm: Singing recital by Somiya Darwish. Sun 28, 8pm: Afronoubia band accompanies you in a journey particularly to Nubia and generally to Africa with the most impressive African rhythms and reggae. Thurs 2, 6 & 8pm: El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of Umm Kolthoum playing two of her best songs. Wisdom Hall Thurs 25, 7pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi chanter Amer Al-Toni performs Sufi chants and dances. Sun 28, 6.30pm: Religious chanting by Waslet Samaa band. Thurs 2, 7.30pm: Mounib band performs the songs of the late Ahmed Mounib. Al-Burouj Theatre Al-Shorouk City, Ismailia Road Fri 26, 6pm: Singing recital by Amr Hassan. Wed 1 May, 7pm: A concert features super star Angham.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) 22 Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Al-Horiyya Road, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 25 and Fri 26, 8pm: Giselle ballet is performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, supervised by Erminia Kamel, and the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui, music by Adolphe Adam, choreography by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, Abdel-Moniem Kamel, lighting design by Yasser Shaalan, set design by Mohamed El-Gharabawy, and costume design by Nadieshda Tovostlak, and Marina Marzinco. Sun 28, 8pm: A concert of songs by late singer Abdel-Halim Hafez.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Main Hall Fri 26, 7pm: Karakeeb band Small Hall Thurs 25, 7pm: Kassiopeia band features pianist and vocalist Lina Farah. Sat 27, 7pm: A concert of classical Arab music by Shareaa Al-Fan (The Street of Art) band, conducted by maestro Ehab Abdel-Hamed.
