A call for recalibration: Past, present and future of Arab Music Festival

As the 34th Arab Music Festival approaches amid a wave of artist withdrawals and rallying expressions of support for the … More

Arab Music Festival controversy widens ahead of 34th edition

A growing controversy surrounding the 34th Arab Music Festival and Conference has raised questions about budgets, artists’ fees, artistic decision-making … More

Harmony Araby Choir: When hundreds of voices become one

From the ancient stones of Jordan’s Jerash to the open-air stages of Oman’s Salalah and back to the Red Sea … More

Sherine Abdel Wahab’s return to Egypt’s stage marks bid to reclaim her artistic narrative

After more than a year away from Egypt’s concert stage, Egyptian superstar Sherine Abdel Wahab is preparing for a high-profile … More

The Opera’s next act: Tracing leadership changes at the Cairo Opera House

Last week, Egyptian bass singer Reda El-Wakil was appointed chairman of the Cairo Opera House, joining the succession of distinguished … More

2025 Yearender: A tale of two stages in Egypt’s diverging live music scene

The year 2025 highlighted a growing divide in Egypt’s music ecosystem, as major festivals and star-led events continued to gain … More

In Chopin’s territory: Young Egyptian pianists explore Poland

Every two years, Cairo hosts Egypt’s only Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youths. Winners not only perform but also … More

Ziad Rahbani (1956-2025): An endless legacy

Few artists have shaped the cultural and political fabric of the Arab world quite like Ziad Rahbani, and his passing … More

Khaled Saleh: A music of possibilities

Over the past two decades, the name Khaled Saleh has repeatedly appeared in various publications—in recent years often in connection … More

2024 Yearender: The music of exile: Cairo-based Sudanese musicians finding refuge in their art

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, countless Sudanese nationals have fled the country, and most found … More

In Egypt, Sudanese musicians sing their hymns to peace

The Africa Report Cairo has become home to several groups of Sudanese diaspora musicians, refugees from war who are forging … More

Dafallah Al-Haj | A Titan Of Sudan’s Music Heritage

Far from Cairo’s affluent neighborhoods, children’s laughter echoes through a narrow street as they kick a ball, their swift feet … More

Playboy in Alexandria: On Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Opera Don Giovanni was staged at the main hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina for three evenings between 18 and 20 … More

Egyptian soprano Neveen Allouba to be awarded France’s Order of Arts and Letters

Well-known Egyptian soprano Neveen Allouba will be awarded France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in the grade of Chevalier … More

Old flames: Egyptian ensemble Zaii Zaman returns with a concert at Tahrir Cultural Centre

Following a few years hiatus, Zaii Zaman returned with a unique Ramadan concert staged at the Tahrir Cultural Centre’s garden … More

Nader Abbassi: A maestro with many hats

Just days prior to conducting the United Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert featuring soprano Fatma Said at the new Grand … More

‘Signs are only signs when we choose to believe in them’: Nouran AbuTaleb on new release Betshoof Alamat

Egyptian singer Nouran AbuTaleb released Betshoof Alamat (You See Signs) on Friday. This is the first song from an album … More

Basem Darwisch: Finding oneself

When speaking of cultural fusion, composer, oud player, and music manager Basem Darwisch is among the first names that comes … More

Beyond Chopin

Shahd Magdy, Andrew Milad, Mahmoud El-Batran and Mostafa Hassan are the names of the young Egyptian pianists who won the … More

Sacred sounds: On Mozart’s Requiem in Cairo

Mozart’s Requiem was performed in Cairo on two consecutive evenings, 12 and 13 May. Among the core values of music … More

Tarek Raouf Ensemble: A brand new Egyptian band bids on modern jazz

With a four-horn jazz combo and an Indian tabla, the new band brings a new interesting colour to the Egyptian … More

Rowan Maher explores tunes of Egyptian cinema through its songs

Accompanied by seven musicians, Maher will present a series of songs from the known Egyptian films of the 2000s A … More

Egyptian saxophonist Nour Ashour longs for ‘wanas’ in his first track composed during quarantine

Titled ‘Wanas’, the track is the first in a series of compositions coming from Ashour’s home studio in King Mariout … More

Oud, guitar and percussion: Ali Omar El-Farouk’s trio readies for their first Cairo concert

In their upcoming concert, the newly formed trio will feature Ali Omar El-Farouk (oud, guitar, bağlama), Hany Bedair (cajón and … More

A decade later: On Egypt’s music scene 2011-2020

It is the dawn of 2011, the year of the revolution… And many new songs are coming out of the … More

All strings attached: A heartwarming debut of Egypt’s Isis String Orchestra for amateur musicians

The orchestra gave two consecutive concerts on Thursday 26 November, at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek Amateur music ensembles … More

Egyptian singer Zahra Ramy releases first original ‘I Gave Up’

The 30 October 2020 concert will mark the official launch of Ramy’s band Mixer Egyptian radio presenter, singer and actress … More

Bringing back the ‘music monologue’ with a twist: Bahgaga band to celebrate 5th anniversary with concert

Founded by an Egyptian composer Ayman Helmy in 2015, Bahgaga fuses songs with light acting, presenting the repertoire in a … More

After the Sun Goes Down: Massar Egbari’s guitarist Mahmoud Siam releases new track

The new track comes after many nights spent in the studio during curfew Mahmoud Siam, the guitarist of Egypt’s well-known … More

Egypt’s independent music scene in dire straits as cultural shutdown continues

With the fourth month with no income, Egypt’s independent musicians, DJ’s, technicians, sound engineers and thousand of others in the … More

INTERVIEW: Egypt’s culture minister Ines Abdel-Dayem on the arts scene, plans in the face of Covid-19

With the difficult financial situation faced by artists being an urgent topic, Abdel-Dayem discusses solutions and redraws the map of … More

Remembering Demis Roussos: Alexandria-born Greek singer who engraved himself in the hearts of Egyptian listeners

Renowned internationally and particularly beloved by Egyptian listeners, the master of musical nostalgia Demis Roussos was born on 15 June … More

Obituary: David Hales, Egypt-based British pianist, vocal coach and Cairo’s hidden pillar

British pianist, vocal coach and repetiteur David Llewellyn Hales died on 31 May 2020 in Cairo News of David Hales … More

The East Anglia maqamat: When Egyptian musicians meet UK’s young talents

Between 12 and 17 February, the musicians from the European Egyptian Contemporary Music Society held workshops for the talents enrolled … More

Remembering Ali Osman: Composer, academic and conductor of Egypt’s Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra

Egypt’s music scene lost Ali Osman, Sudanese composer, conductor, educator and a man whose work with Al Nour Wal Amal, … More

Music for the entire community: Inclusion as a practice from Britten’s UK home

The Snape Maltings’ Learning and Inclusion department uses music to embrace community at large – children, differently-abled, elderly and prison … More