Downtown Cairo bubbled with creative energy on Friday, with large personifications of Egypt’s ruling military marching around Tahrir making a … More
Category: It’s all about Art
From Violence and Barricades to an Open Air Gallery
Not far from Tahrir Square Cairo’s Mohamed Mahmoud Street is an artistic testament to the region’s past and ongoing struggles. … More
Links between drama and democracy stressed at Cairo conference
Scholars discuss the relationship between drama and democracy from Ancient Greece through to the modern day at Cairo University. Published … More
Al-Gezira Club photo exhibition at Hanager puts in question artistic priorities
A photography exhibition by members of Al-Gezira Sporting Club that opened Saturday at Hanager Arts Centre fails excite and begs … More
Africa in search of sustainability
Published in Contemporary Practices Road to the highest artistic podium The brainchild of two French photographers. Françoise Huguier … More
Meet the new chairperson of the Cairo Opera House: Ines Abdel Dayem
When Shaker Abdel Hamid, Egypt’s Minister of Culture announced that Ines Abdel Dayem will be a new chairperson of the … More
Reem Kelani’s journey from occupied territories to occupied Tahrir
Palestinian singer Reem Kelani indulges herself in research on iconic Egyptian music legend, Sayed Darwish Published in Al Ahram Weekly … More
Importance of audience development in music institutions
While the Cairo Opera House suspends all activities until 25 February, it is about time to raise the difficult issue … More
Egypt’s new music scene: A revolutionary audit
Published in Al Ahram Weekly and Ahram Online “What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who only has … More
Polish artists respond to Ganzeer’s appeal for ‘Mad Graffiti Week’
When the Egyptian artist Ganzeer called for international artists to support Egypt’s revolution, Polish artists were among the first to … More
One year after martyrdom: Bakir’s exhibition at Hanager provokes reflection
An exhibition by Ziad Bakir – martyr of Egypt’s revolution – displays a remarkable talent and provokes reflection on life’s … More
Egyptian musician Tony Kaldas nominated for 2012 Time for Peace award
Ahram Online takes a look at the career of Tony Kaldas, an Egyptian musician nominated for the prestigious Time for … More
Talent for the times
Published in Al Ahram Weekly On Thursday 29 December, over 20 students of Sobhi Bidair’s took the stage to perform … More
Christmas core
Published on 5 Jan 2012 in Al Ahram Weekly One of the core elements of Christmas around the world is … More
Murat Germen: Photographer of global cityscapes
Photography is on the rise globally and is no longer simply a fascinating art form; it is also an important … More
An isolated Christmas
On 17 December, the Cairo Opera House Main Hall invited the audience to the annual Christmas Concert of the Cairo … More
Christmas with the Nutcracker: Cairo Ballet Still Hopeful
For Christmas, a little girl named Clara receives a mechanical doll. Since there is always something mysterious about Christmas, her … More
East-west bonanza
On 7 and 8 December, the Cairo Opera Ballet Company presented Ballet Lorkiana with El Leila El Kebira at the … More
Music helps babies, toddlers and kids excel
Kindermusik is a world-renowned music education programme to develop babies and toddlers; Ahram Online visits an official representative of Kindermusik … More
Tunisia’s creative documents
From protagonists and documentarians, today, Tunisian photographers – and other artists – went on to becoming commentators on the unfolding … More
Africa through the lens
A rich source of reflection and an important wake-up call: Ati Metwaly reports from the 9th Rencontres de Bamako photography … More
A dose of Mozart
One-act operas, especially when they are by Mozart, add immeasurably to any opera company’s repertoire. Published on 3 November 2011 … More
Meet the Cairo Opera Orchestra’s new artistic director
With the opening of its new season, the Cairo Opera House announced the appointment of Nayer Nagui as principal conductor … More
Malek Jandali on art and freedom in Syria
Syrian pianist and composer talks to Ahram Online about the role of artists in his country’s fight for democracy and … More
A matter of fulfilment
Kodaly: Dances of Galanta for orchestra; Szymanowski: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 Op. 35; Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 … More
Harpsichord and Baroque violin in Cairo
Ahram Online talks to Estonian musician Saale Fischer about the chance discovery of a harpsichord in a Cairo church Published … More
Egyptian bass-baritone in Virginia Opera’s production of Aida
Ashraf Sewailam’s road to operatic stages throughout the US is inspiring for many Egyptian singers. The renowned bass-baritone talks to … More
A spoonful of arias opens the Cairo Opera Company new season
Cairo Opera Company opened new season with a bunch of famous scenes from the best-known world operas Published on Thursday … More
Successful opening of ‘A Child’s View From Gaza’ exhibition despite efforts to supress it
Pro-Israel groups fail to force cancellation of Palestinian children’s art exhibition. Published in Ahram Online The Middle East Children’s Alliance … More
The perils of youth in the season’s opening of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra
An ecstatic audience filled the hall of the Cairo Opera: regulars thirsty for the classical music of which they had … More
Egyptian musicians and bands in top 20 of Makshoof Music
Cairokee, Massar Egbari, SimpleXity, Hani Mustafa, are among many artists who made it to the current top 20 of Makshoof … More
A thousand maps without an apparent direction
Though an ambitious and fresh exhibition, Ashraf Ibrahim’s display at the Palace of Arts leaves many questions unanswered Published on … More
Seasonal concerns
The Cairo Symphony Orchestra has only announced the first four concerts of the new season so the audience still awaits … More
Indian Rock and Mood by Susheela Raman closes international concert series
Susheela Raman talks about the origins of her Indian-inspired rock and mood music, whose concert marked the finale of the … More
Sacred voices
At the Hayy Festival, Ati Metwaly joins in the invocations Published on 25 August 2011 in Al Ahram Weekly The … More
Karima Nayt: Algerian singer and dancer recalls the start of her career in Egypt
Karima Nayt is no stranger to Egypt’s music and dance scene. Before the expected release of her 2011 CD with … More
Talaat Zein (1955-2011) A song to remember
The Egyptian singer and actor passed away in Cairo on Sunday 14 August 2011, after a battle with lung cancer. … More
Afropop Worldwide prepares a musical portrait of Egypt
During their one-month stay in Egypt, Afropop Worldwide, collected a large amount of data for four radio episodes on Egypt’s … More
Bridge: A story of an Egyptian artist at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Ahram Online speaks with the co-curator and artist of Bridge, a comment on Egyptian society by an Egyptian artist exhibited … More
Great kick-off for Ramadan international concert series at El Genaina Theatre
Ara Musa Honra, a Spanish-based band with an eclectic resource of Funk, Reggae, Flamenco and Latin music, kicked off the … More
A midsummer night’s fracas
Ati Metwaly assesses the seasonal fever Published on 4 August 2011 in Al Ahram Weekly In many corners of the … More
Carlos Latuff gives a voice to the oppressed with his art
Ahram Online talks to the Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff, reflecting on Egypt’s revolution and the Arab Spring shaking the whole … More
Gems in dust
Enjoying the breeze at the Citadel Summer Festival… almost Published on 28 July 2011 in Al Ahram Weekly Despite the … More
Red Sea resort lit up by art
In the midst of tourist attractions and commercial outlets, Safarkhan Gallery provides a breeze of real art to the shores … More
Variety of artistic testimonies mark Khan al Maghraby’s season finale
‘In the Frame’ -a collective exhibition on display at Khan Al Maghraby gallery is a meeting of Egyptian artists of … More
Homage to the Pyramids
Pyramids and the Revolution is a new adaptation of Maurice Bejart’s ballet Pyramide – El Nour. The new production, performed … More
Fiddlers from heaven: Suzuki violin student concert
On Monday 4 July, the Cairo Opera House Open Air Theatre invites audiences to one of the most beautiful concerts … More
GUIDE: Ahram Online recommends music education in Cairo
During the summer holiday, consider the benefits of musical training on personal development and the upcoming school year Published on … More
Czech music to celebrate Velvet and Egypt revolutions
On Saturday, 25 June, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra will perform music by Smetana, the historic Czech composer, while recalling the … More
Egyptian Arts Centennial: From Cairo to Alexandria
‘Egyptian Arts Centennial’, directed by Walid Aouni, recaptured a hundred years of Egyptian contemporary art at the Cairo Opera House … More
A delicate balance (2/2)
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 11 June; Sergey Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D minor, Op. … More
A delicate balance (1/2)
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 11 June; Sergey Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D minor, Op. … More
Art: A ray of forgotten sun in Egypt’s schools
The student art exhibition at the British International School in Cairo offers inspiring hope that art education is not completely … More
Dust of tension
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 4 June; Mozart: Overture to Idomeneo re di Creda, K. 366, Danzi: Sinfonia concertante for … More
Venice Biennale exhibits Egyptian artist, Ahmed Bassiouny’s visual arts project
The Venice Biennale exhibits 30 Days of Running in Place, a visual arts project by Ahmed Bassiouny, an Egyptian professor … More
Passion and fantasy
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 28 May; Edward Elgar: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor, Op 85; Nikolai … More
Experiment
Ewart Hall, 18 May, Schubert Mass in G, Cairo Choral Society, Cairo Festival Orchestra, Amira Reda (soprano), Matthew Hendrick (tenor), … More
The Whole World is a Circus
Acrobats, clowns, jugglers, and trained animals are the subjects of John Perkins’ photography exhibition but instead of the excitement and … More
Tarek Ali Hassan: That rare whiff of true renaissance
A medical doctor, musician, philosopher, writer, poet and painter, Tarek Ali Hassan describes himself simply as ‘somebody who loves human … More
Heir apparent
The period 28 April-3 May saw the first roundof the Cairo Contemporary Music Days (CCMD) festival, organised by the European-Egyptian … More
Sherif El Razzaz taps into the voice of contemporary music
Ahram Online talks to the man attempting to revive contemporary music in Cairo’s classical music scene and its relevance to … More
Composition master class links Arab musical heritage to governing central powers
A composition master class held on 30 April, within the frame of the Cairo Contemporary Music Days, turns its focus … More
Bohemians of Broadway
On 18 April, Cairo Opera House opened the curtain for The Best of Broadway, a compilation of the best scenes … More
Bach wins again
While the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House was staging Swan Lake by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, the … More
Brahms twice over
Meticulous in his compositions, Johannes Brahms refused to present anything less than perfect. As such, Brahms’ musical legacy remains among … More
Return of the Swan Lake
Cairo Opera Ballet Company is in the last days of preparation for the Swan Lake, one of the most beloved … More
Remembering Ziad Bakir
Works by Beethoven and Rageh Daoud pay fitting tribute to the martyrs of the Egyptian revolution Published on 24 March … More
In memory of Ziad Bakir, a beautiful soul and an inspiring artist
The death of Ziad Bakir, one of the martyrs of the January Revolution, has devastated his family, friends and many … More
Ziad Bakir, artist and graphic designer at the Cairo Opera House is missing
Ziad Mohamed Saleh Bakir, son of Sawsan Fouad and Mohamed Saleh Bakir, was born on 9 November 1973. Bakir is … More
Has the Egyptian revolution given birth to new Banksys?
The world knows the works of British artist Banksy, French Jef aerosol, and many other graffiti – and stencils – … More
Music for Charity
Spiros C. Moros Foundation held a musical event with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, a number of soloists and the Cairo … More
Show Dance: Misplaced
A French troupe performing at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House did not give 2011 the best of … More
2010 in Music: More ups than downs
2010 was an exciting year filled with a big variety of events: ballets, operas, symphonic concerts, recitals, and all the … More
Attract and widen your audience
Chief Executive at Audiences London, Sarah Boiling talks to Ahram Online about the advisory work of her organisation which provides … More
World renowned orchestra reaches out to youth
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment appears to have found the right formula for attracting new and young audiences … More
When Baroque Masters meet at El Sawy Culturewheel
El Sakia String Orchestra gave their second concert at El Sawy Culturewheel, introducing the best works from classical music to … More
Countdown to Christmas
With the beginning of December, the music world enters into the Christmas spirit. Christmas-related concerts will be held in many … More
The devil in the programming
An otherwise successful concert of music by Mozart and Weber raises questions about the spread of unconventional programming. Published on … More
The Human body as Art
Whether the representations of the body are spontaneous cave drawings or intentional academic studies, it remains one of the fundamental … More
Make way for the King
Tut Ankh Amon is the best known Egyptian Pharaoh and his name is recognised worldwide. Tut Ankh Amon — actually … More
The World according to 1957
With half a century of life experiences expressed though artistic activities, three artists born in 1957 met together at the … More
The October Files
October has seen a remarkable number of valuable performances not only at the Cairo Opera House but also at locations … More
Arts of intelligence
This year, the Cairo Opera House joined an international network of theatres broadcasting live from the Metropolitan Opera – an … More
Aida returns to the Pyramids
October 5-7 and 10 are important dates for the Cairo Opera House, marking the return of Verdi’s Aida to the … More
Puzzled in a magical location
Friday, 1 October was my last evening in Beirut. I was there to attend a series of workshops of the … More
The lost Mozart
It would be hard to say which musical form satisfied Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart the most, or provided him with the … More
In the beginning was Latin America
Latin America’s journey to national independence, which started in 1810 and went on till 1825, is as fascinating Latin America. … More
Almost Perfect
Notwithstanding faulty sound engineering, Ati Metwaly discovers how summer can be a many-spleandoured thing Published on 12 August 2010 in … More
Ati Metwaly 