The Orient in French eyes It is the first time the Cairo Opera House hosts Léo Delibes's Lakmé in its Main Hall. The spectacular Lakmé is a French opera in three acts whose libretto was co-written by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille. Directed by Jean-Louis Pichon, its music is performed by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nader Abbasi, the Cairo Opera Choir, along with the American College in Cairo Choir. Running for four days at the Main Hall, the three-act opera Lakmé -- like many other French operas of the late 19th century -- captures the ambiance of the Orient, specifically through the chorus' rendition of Persian and Indian dances. Sherif Sonbol captured the atmosphere with his camera. The latest event by Egyptian fashion designer Marie Bishara was the Audi Joburg Fashion Week sponsored by Audi, L'Oréal Professionnel, L'Oréal Paris, Southern Sun, Fashion, JohannesburgSouth Africa, Mizani, Sandton Convention Centre and Metro FM. She is the first Egyptian designer to have shown her collection in Audi Joburg Fashion Week and was invited as a guest of honour based on her success at the Paris Fashion Week in October 2008. The event took place in Johannesburg, South Africa where Bishara presented her Spring/Summer Collection, inspired by Egypt's rich culture embroidered with best quality Egyptian cotton, in addition to silk and linen hand-crafted in Egypt. The theme of her collections, "Fashion comes alive at the shores of the Nile", is fabric manufacture, complemented by unusual accessories and forms to create a silhouette that is at once understated and elegant. She brought her Egyptian fashion flair into the Mzansi Catwalk and with her beaded gowns and the golden hieroglyphics as "symbols of life" she astonished the audience. Pharaonic symbols such as the key of life, Horus, the god of the sky, and the scarab, symbol of birth and rebirth, distinctively distinguish this collection. She will be seen again in Paris Fashion Week March 2009 to present her Autumn/Winter Collection 2009/2010 at Ecole de Louvre. Coinciding with its 90th anniversary celebrations and the official inauguration of its New Cairo Campus, the American University in Cairo (AUC) has launched a YouTube channel where the public, from the comfort of their homes, will be able to view AUC's public lectures, debates, conferences, and performances with a mere click on a button. Launched in February 2009, AUC's new YouTube channel is designed to allow greater access to AUC's lectures, events, and research activities. It now hosts approximately 25 videos, including on AUC's 90-year history and public lectures and panels held during the inauguration ceremonies of the new campus. These videos include speakers such as Egypt's Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali ; Egyptian best-selling author Alaa El-Aswani ; AUC trustee and Nobel prize winner Mohamed El-Baradei and Nabil Fahmi, former Egyptian ambassador to the United States and a graduate of AUC. To access AUC's new YouTube channel log on www.youtube.com/auc. A prestigious celebration was held at Al-Ahram Panorama Hall commemorating the 19th anniversary of Nisf Al-Donia magazine. The celebration was crowned by the presence of Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Mursi Atallah, Nisf Al-Donia Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadli, Al-Ahram Printing Department General Manager Mohamed Taymour, and its Printing Department in Qalyoub General Manager Hussein Abdel-Aal as well as General Manager of Advertising Hassan Hamdi. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid A thrilling private screening took place at Nile City cinema for the new film Ayam Saaba (Tough Days), starring actor Hisham Abdel-Hamid, talented actor Bassem Samra, cinema rising actor Mohamed Nagati actress Salwa Khatab, as well as rising actress Randa El-Beheiri, scripted by Mohsen Youssef and directed by Fady Farouk. Another private screening was held at Family Maadi cinema for the film Wahed Sefr (One/ Zero), starring actress Elham Shahine, actors Khaled Abul- Naga, Ahmed El-Fishawi, Mohamed Karim and Hussein El-Imam, actresses Zeina, Nelly Karim and Intesar, scripted by Mariam Naoum and directed by Kamla Abu Zekri. Chairman of the Board of the Egyptian Media Production City Sayed Helmi and head of the Cinema Production Committee of the Media Production City Mamdouh El-Leithi were present to congratulate the cast of the film. The Nile Hall witnessed the closing ceremony of the 57th Cinema Festival of the Catholic Centre presided over by Father Youssef Mazloum. The film Asef Ala Al-Ezaag (Sorry for the Inconvenience) garnered the lion's share of awards starring talented comedian Ahmed Helmi, who was granted the best actor award for the third consecutive year while the film garnered the awards for best film, best direction, best script, best production and the jury committee award. The best actress award went to gifted actress Abla Kamel for her sensational role in the film Bolteya Al-Ayma (Swimming Bolteya). Singer-cum-actor Edward was given the award on her behalf. Hala Fakher and Mona Hala shared the award of best TV actress, actor Sherif Mounir was given the best TV actor award and rising actress Donia Samir Ghanem was also awarded. Awards were distributed by Vatican Ambassador to Egypt Mark Louis and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture Ali Abu Shady. The second round of the Arab Media Forum for Youth (AMFY) was held at the Cairo University, presided over by Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication Laila Abdel-Meguid and under the auspices of the Arab League Secretary- General Amr Moussa. Some 1,500 of undergraduate students participated in the AMFY from seven Arab countries: Kuwait, Emirates, Syria, Libya, Oman, Algeria and Tunisia. During the forum days, a galaxy of media and high-profile figures were honoured including veteran comedian Adel Imam, Lebanese media figure George Qerdahi, media figure Lamis El-Hadidi, Al-Ahram veteran columnist Salama Ahmed Salama, head of the Egyptian and Arab Publishers Union Ibrahim El-Muallim, Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, journalist and TV introducer Wael El-Ebrashi and head of the Nile Channels Osama El-Sheikh who were all keynote speakers at the series of seminars organised in the AMFY. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Al-Rashid held an exceptionally glamorous reception at the Four Seasons Hotel celebrating the Kuwaiti National and Independence Day with the attendance of a galaxy of ambassadors and high-profile figures. Present were head of the People's Assembly Fathi Sorour, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab, Minister of Higher Education and of State for Scientific Research Hani Hilal, Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali, Omani Ambassador to Egypt Abdel-Aziz Al-Hanaai and his Saudi counterpart Hisham Al-Nazer, Arab League Assistant Secretary- General Mohamed Sobeih, Al-Ahram back page editor Mona Ragab and Nisf Al-Donia magazine Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadli. Cairo Rotary Club presided over by Daniel Loro held a lavish seminar at the Pacha Nile boat. The seminar titled "Environmental Policies and Work Planning", Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George was the keynote speaker of the seminar who discussed and featured the two most important international environmental problems, global warming and the disappearance of ice of the two poles. Member of Nefertari Diplomatic Club Brigitte El-Samman was among the attendees of the seminar. photo: Ayman Barayez After the first performance of Léo Delibes's Lakmé opera took place at the Cairo Opera House, French Ambassador to Egypt Jean Félix Paganon gathered with opera singers Amira Selim, Nader El-Wakil, Gihan Fayed, Hala El-Shabouri, Christophe Berry and maestro Nader Abbasi and expressed his admiration for their brilliant performance. The French opera was organised in cooperation with the French Embassy and the French Cultural Centre in Cairo. photo: Bassam El-Zoghbi Last Friday, a Peace Message to the whole world was launched from the heart of historic Cairo, from Al-Ghouri Palace in Al-Hussein district. It was a unique artistic meeting which combined voices that unite and melt together in one beautiful moment. The event featured four bands: Samaa Sufi band, led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah who is also head of Al-Ghouri Creativity Centre, the Coptic Hymns band, an Indonesian chanting band and the Church Hymns band. A galaxy of literati attended this mesmerising musical evening, such as poet Ahmed Abdel-Moeti Hegazi, President of the International Union of Muslim-Christian-Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Ali El-Samman, Nepalese Ambassador to Egypt Rambhakhta Thakur, Father Mekhail Guirguis Tadrous deputising Bishop Basanty, as well as cultural coordinator Magda Shourba.
