Farewell Aida Last Sunday was the grand finale of Verdi's Aida performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company along with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall. Sherif Sonbol shot the victory scene performed by the two leading ballet dancers of the performing company, Olga Derda and Ahmed Yehia. At Diwan bookstore in Mohandessin, Robert Fisk signed copies of his books, The Great War for Civilisation and his latest bestseller, The Age of the Warrior. Described by The New York Times as "probably the most famous foreign correspondent in Britain", Fisk has over 30 years of experience in international reporting and is currently the Middle East correspondent for the British newspaper The Independent. He is the world's most-decorated foreign correspondent, having received numerous awards including the British Press International Journalist of the Year Award seven times. Garden City Lions Club (GCLC), presided over by Awatef Serageddin, held a prestigious seminar at the Cairo Capital Club hosting Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Al-Nazer. He discussed bilateral relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the means of reinforcing these relations on the political and commercial levels. A rich array of foreign ambassadors attended the seminar, among them Lebanese Ambassador Khaled Ziyada, Algerian Ambassador Abdel-Qader Al-Haggar, Kuwaiti Ambassador Mohamed Al-Rashid, and his Bahraini counterpart Khalil Al-Zowadi, along with 6 October Governor Fathi Saad, former minister of development Yehia El-Gamal, MP Hisham Mustafa Khalil, veteran actress Laila Taher as well as members of the GCLC Bahiya Youssef and Safi Zein El-Abedine. photos: Bassam El-Zoghby At a lavish celebration held in the headquarters of the Mexican Embassy, Mexican Ambassador to Egypt Jaime Nualart granted the honorary consul at the Mexican Embassy Hosna Mohamed Rachid, sister of Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, the prestigious Mexican Order of Merit. Rachid was honoured for her relentless efforts in supporting the economic and commercial exchange between Egypt and Mexico. The celebration was crowned by the presence of the minister of trade and industry, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Minister of State for Local Development Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub, Alexandria Governor Adel Labib, former foreign minister Ahmed Maher, Minister of State for Family and Population Mushira Khattab as well as Nisf Al-Donia magazine Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadli. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid A stunning concert was organised by students of the American University in Cairo (AUC) marking their graduation. World-renowned Pakistani- American and Libyan born singer and songwriter Nadia Ali and talented Egyptian singer Mohamed Hamaki enlivened the concert with the attendance of a large number of their fans. Wust Al-Balad band and pop singer Mahmoud El-Esseili featured in a thrilling concert at the Canadian School. Students flocked to attend the concert and were excited by the presence of gifted young actor Ahmed El-Fishawi, taking pictures with him along with members of the Wust Al-Balad band, especially lead singer Hani Adel. Mesmerising the audience with a selection of classical Arab songs, veteran singers Hani Shaker and Nadia Mustafa featured together in a concert at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall that was a smashing success with the proceeds allocated to Egypt's Hearts Association for heart disease patients. Veteran actress Poussy, TV presenter Hayat Abdoun and media figure Soheir Shalabi, as well as a galaxy of high-profile figures, celebrities, governors and ministers were among the attendees who came to support this charitable cause. The International School of Choueifat in 6 October governorate held its annual charitable event collecting LE200,000 for Children's Cancer Hospital. The money was collected from the revenues of cultural, social and artistic activities organised by the school. The Egyptian Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennial that is due to be opened on 6 June will be represented by Adel El-Siwi as a commissar and artist, and artist Ahmed Askalani. Through the work "Lightly monumental", two different generations attempt to dialogue both with the creativity of their culture and with the experiences accumulated in and from it, illustrated through daily and surprising images. The painting of El-Siwi insists on the story, which is expressed by the solemn verticality of the art piece, but is crossed by small anecdotes that suggest possible adventures, paths of pilgrimage towards non-sacred territories. Askalani 's sculpture presents itself as an empty appearance, recalling fragility. The sculpture is produced with simple techniques, similar to a girl's hair weaving, with natural coloured palm leaves, and because of that it captivates the essential gestures and shapes of a humanity cleared of its aggressiveness and dark side. El-Siwi was born in Beheira in Egypt in 1952. After obtaining his MA in psychiatry he decided to abandon medicine to dedicate himself fully to painting. He lived in Italy for 10 years and thereafter returned to Egypt where he currently lives and works. He has participated in several international exhibitions, such as "Memories and Modernity" at 1997's Venice Biennial; "Italia-Arabia" at the Chelsea Art Museum, New York; "TransAfrican Art" at the Orlando Museum of Modern Art, "World into Art" at the British Museum in London, and at the Cairo Biennial in 2008. Askalani was born in Qena in Egypt in 1979. He began his artistic career as an autodidact after his arrival in Cairo, where he developed a personal style based on common materials. He exhibits regularly in Egypt and abroad. A press conference was held at Media Production City in 6 October governorate on the occasion of the beginning of shooting the new TV series, Ana Qalbi Dalili (My Heart is My Guide). The series tells the life story of late veteran singer-cum-actress Laila Mourad and is named after one of her most famous songs. Mourad was born in Al-Daher, Cairo, in February 1917 to a Jewish Egyptian father, Ibrahim Zaki Mordachi, and to a Jewish Polish mother, Gamilah Salmon. Her brother, Mounir Mourad, was an actor and composer. Ana Qalbi Dalili stars Syrian actress Safaa Sultan playing the role of Mourad, veteran Egyptian actor Ahmed Rateb and actress Manal Salama, and is scripted by Magdi Saber and directed by Mohamed Zoheir Ragab.
