As the 34th Arab Music Festival approaches amid a wave of artist withdrawals and rallying expressions of support for the … More
Category: Al-Ahram Weekly
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
Tarek Said (1966-2026): Independent by choice
Four months after the sudden passing of Egyptian theatre director Tarek Said, the 19th National Theatre Festival (25 July-11 August) … 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
Boundless emotions in Greek National Opera Ballet’s performances in Cairo
On 6 and 7 June, the Greek National Opera (GNO) Ballet gave two performances at the main hall of the … More
Beyond acting: Sudanese actress Eiman Yousif’s many talents
Known for her role in Goodbye Julia, Sudanese actress Eiman Yousif is a well-rounded artist, with music – singing and … More
The Sahel revealed: A story of Niger’s Envoy of God awarded at Aswan Int’l Women Film Fest
The up-and-coming filmmaker Amina Abdoulaye Mamani talks about The Envoy of God, a film that looks deep into the heart … More
Cairo Opera Ballet debuts Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty in Egypt
The Cairo Opera Ballet Company will give its first performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Sleeping Beauty on 9 … 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
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
Back to the future: Musical Wala Fi El-Ahlam reopens Cairo’s Kasr El-Nil Theatre
Premiering in February 2023, the musical theatre production Wala Fi El-Ahlam by the Egyptian Musical Theatre troupe has continued to … 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
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
A lot to choose from: On the multitude of Egypt’s art and culture festivals
The second half of 2022 brings an increased presence of artistic activities to many Egyptian cities. The current months are … 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
Lessons in theatre: On Duncan Macmillan’s play ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ in Cairo
Duncan Macmillan’s play Every Brilliant Thing was staged in Egyptian Arabic at the Rawabet Art Space in Cairo Every Brilliant … 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
Shaking it up again: Yakout on presiding over Cairo Int’l Festival for Experimental Theatre
Gamal Yakout, the newly appointed president of the festival’s 28th edition scheduled for December 2021, talks about his vision and … 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
Cairotronica: Platform for media artists to ruminate on digital technology’s impact on life
Brain child of Haytham Nawar, this year’s Cairotronica was themed ‘Data Fiction’ and took place across two venues: Factory space … 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
‘I Passed By…’: History of Egyptian theatre through Manal Ebrahim’s personal creative journey
The long-standing assistant director and director Manal Ebrahim’s unique exhibition which took place last March bears witness to the Egyptian … More
Revisiting silence and emotional distortions in multi-award-winning Sound of Metal
A showcase of the performers’ abilities and directed by Darius Marder, film Sound of Metal looks into the tragedy of … More
Egyptian cultural manager Ahmed El-Attar discusses his art ecosystem
‘Keep dreaming with your feet on the ground,’ art manager Ahmed El-Attar said on his creative ecosystem In early March, … 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
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
Cornucopia of art and knowledge: Bigger and brighter 5th India by Nile festival
The fifth edition of India by the Nile, the biggest foreign arts and culture festival held in Egypt, stretched over … More
India’s dancer Aditi Mangaldas weaves the silver threads of Kathak into Egyptian audience
Aditi Mangaldas performed ‘Uncharted Seas’ in Cairo and Alexandria, as part of the India by the Nile festival In her … More
Switzerland’s HORA Theatre invites Cairo audience to look differently at disabilities
Part of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival’s programming, the Disabled Theatre was staged on 21 and 22 March at AUC’s … 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
Obituary: Nehad Selaiha, theatre activist, scholar, godmother
On 6 January, the Egyptian culture scene lost Nehad Selaiha: a bilingual scholar, translator, historian, writer and critic with a … More
Uncovering the face of faceless art: On Egypt’s graffiti artist Keizer, the ant and the city
With the ant being his mascot, or logo, Keizer’s large body of work includes thematic content that ranges from political … More
Wholesome brass: El-Nafikha band introduces a new recipe to Egypt’s music fans
In a short time, a unique flavour of El Nafikha brass quintet has generated interest, appreciation of every generation of … More
‘In India I became in touch with the texture of life’: French choreographer Gilles Chuyen
During his recent stay in Cairo, India-based French dancer and choreographer Gilles Chuyen spoke with Ahram Online about the Bollywood-style … More
Ars longa, vita brevis — Shakespeare, Mendelssohn, Per Poc Puppet Theatre: A many-sided conjunction at the Cairo Opera
Between 23 and 25 October, the Cairo Symphony Chamber Orchestra joined by the Per Poc Puppet Theatre from Spain performed … More
INTERVIEW: Basma El-Husseiny, from Culture Resource to Syrian refugees in Lebanon
Cultural activist Basma El-Husseiny talks about the now Beirut-based Culture Resource, the reason behind suspending its activities in Egypt, the … More
From India to Egypt: When humankind speaks through Kathak classical dance
We move from the performance of India’s renowned Kathak dancer Prachee Shah in Cairo to Kathak courses organised by Maulana … More
Hakawy: Nurturing children with valuable theatre and arts
One of AFCA’s biggest projects, the Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children, is a hope that the Egyptian children will … More
Sudhir Tailang: Political cartooning in India
Prior to his visit to Egypt in April 2014, in his home in Delhi, Sudhir Tailang, renowned Indian cartoonist talks … More
Powerful closing: Odissi dance ends ‘India by the Nile’ festival
Performances of Indian classical dance by a renowned ensemble marked the closing of the brilliantly successful ‘India by the Nile’ … More
Marvels of Lebanon’s Chouf: Caracalla Dance Theatre at Beiteddine Art Festival
The 27th Beiteddine Art Festival kicked off on 28 June with Kan Ya Ma Kan (Once Upon a Time), a … 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
