EGYPTIANS like to mark the Prophet's birthday with special sweet treats, but the event also is a special occasion for religious singing. To mark the day, Cairo Opera House has prepared a big festival of religious singing, with the participation of more than 100 artists from three countries. The festival kicks off at 8pm in the Main Hall. The programme includes about 16 songs for singers from Egypt, Syria and Morocco, who will sing with Abdel-Halim Noira Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghobashi. The festival begins with a group of religious songs praising the Prophet, by Egyptian singers Rehab Motaoe, Agfan, Marwa Naggui and Maye Farouq, along with Moroccan singer Salwa el-Shawadri and Syrian singer Waad el-Bahr. In the second part of the festival, Egyptian singer Mohamed Tharwat will sing famous religious songs. Abdel-Moneim Kamel, head of the Cairo Opera House, says that the festival is one of six parties organised by the Opera House in different venues celebrating the Prophet's birthday. Meanwhile, the Prophet's Lovers band, conducted by Sheikh Walid Chahin, will be celebrating the Prophet's birthday at Wekalet el-Ghouri with religious songs, tonight at 8:00.
