When Shaker Abdel Hamid, Egypt’s Minister of Culture announced that Ines Abdel Dayem will be a new chairperson of the…
Benefit art exhibition in S California for Syria
A Syrian-American artist living in Southern California pulls together an exhibition aiming to raise funds for Syria. Published in Ahram…
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…
US-funded project for children demolished in East Jerusalem
Palestinian ‘Cultural Café’, playground and sports centre is to be rebuilt after Israeli forces bulldozed the East Jerusalem community space…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Attacks on pro-revolution Syrian artists increase
Published in Ahram Online In response to last week’s disappearance of Syrian actor Jalal Al-Taweel, the Arabic Network for Human…
Police brake up Salafist sit-in at Tunisia’s Manouba University
Published on 6 Jan 2012 in Ahram Online According to information released by Manouba University on 6 January, police intervention…
Christmas core
Published on 5 Jan 2012 in Al Ahram Weekly One of the core elements of Christmas around the world is…
Tunisian universities face pressure from Salafists
Art professors at Tunisia’s Manouba University holding sit-in to protest officials’ inaction in response to Salafist pressure Published on Wednesday…
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…
Political & religious pressures restrict our operational freedom: Minister of Culture
Ahram Online talks to Shaker Abd El-Hamid, the newly appointed minister of culture, about challenges and pressures facing the ministry…
An isolated Christmas
On 17 December, the Cairo Opera House Main Hall invited the audience to the annual Christmas Concert of the Cairo…
Freedom is the base for creativity, says minister of culture to Art Lovers Society
Egypt’s new minister of culture tells an audience of the Art Lovers Society that Egyptians will never allow religion to…
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…
East-west bonanza
On 7 and 8 December, the Cairo Opera Ballet Company presented Ballet Lorkiana with El Leila El Kebira at the…
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…
Tunisia security forces to break student sit-in over niqab issue
The dean of the Arts Department at the University of Manouba calls on the local police to end a sit-in…
Carols for the Islamists
This year Santa Claus comes to Egypt under very difficult social, religious and political circumstances. With all the changes taking…
Salafists force temporary closure of Tunisian university’s arts department
Ultra-conservative Salafist students force temporary closure of Manouba University’s arts department in row over niqab and gender segregation Published on…
Tunisia’s creative documents
From protagonists and documentarians, today, Tunisian photographers – and other artists – went on to becoming commentators on the unfolding…
NY fundraiser for Tahrir field hospital
Alwan Arab Music Ensemble to perform in New York to raise money for the Tahrir field hospital Published in Ahram…
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…
Egyptian and Tunisian artists present Arab Spring at the Bamako Biennale
Bamako Encounters in November in the Malian capital draws special attention to the Arab Spring, screening films compiled by activists…
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…
Egyptians, 27 African countries at Bamako Encounters in Malian capital
Egyptians among photographers and video artists from 27 African countries taking part in one of the continent’s most important artistic…
Egyptian video artist wins award at African photography festival
Khaled Hafez won an award at the African photography biennial in Mali, for his piece which examines modern Cairo through…
US publisher to issue Egyptian graphic novel banned under Mubarak
Author Magdy El-Shafei, who was arrested and his book banned during the Mubarak era, is to see his work published…
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…
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…
Basma El-Husseiny: Big dreams realised, more to come
Over the past eight years, Al-Mawred Al-Thakafy has introduced new dynamics to Egypt’s arts scene; Ahram Online talks to Basma…
A matter of fulfilment
Kodaly: Dances of Galanta for orchestra; Szymanowski: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 Op. 35; Dvorak: Symphony No. 8…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Art After Tahrir: What lies ahead for Egypt’s Art Revolution?
Egypt’s January 25 Revolution may have removed Hosni Mubarak from the presidency, however the decades-old regime has yet to topple.…
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…
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…
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…
Seasonal concerns
The Cairo Symphony Orchestra has only announced the first four concerts of the new season so the audience still awaits…
A curious case of officers planted in Egypt’s arts and culture scene
The January 25 Revolution toppled the president but is yet to bring major change to Egypt’s cultural institutions Published on…
Police station in Tunisia turned into an art gallery
A few months after the killing of protesters in Thala, Tunisia, one of its police stations is turned into an…
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…
Sacred voices
At the Hayy Festival, Ati Metwaly joins in the invocations Published on 25 August 2011 in Al Ahram Weekly The…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Thawret El Looool embraces young Egyptian artists
Thawret El Looool, a new book that analyses young artists through their works and chat rooms, makes a significant comment…
Gems in dust
Enjoying the breeze at the Citadel Summer Festival… almost Published on 28 July 2011 in Al Ahram Weekly Despite the…
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…
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…
Homage to the Pyramids
Pyramids and the Revolution is a new adaptation of Maurice Bejart’s ballet Pyramide – El Nour. The new production, performed…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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.…
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…
Dust of tension
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 4 June; Mozart: Overture to Idomeneo re di Creda, K. 366, Danzi: Sinfonia concertante for…
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…
Passion and fantasy
Cairo Opera House Main Hall, 28 May; Edward Elgar: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor, Op 85; Nikolai…
Experiment
Ewart Hall, 18 May, Schubert Mass in G, Cairo Choral Society, Cairo Festival Orchestra, Amira Reda (soprano), Matthew Hendrick (tenor),…
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…
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…
Heir apparent
The period 28 April-3 May saw the first roundof the Cairo Contemporary Music Days (CCMD) festival, organised by the European-Egyptian…
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…
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…
Bohemians of Broadway
On 18 April, Cairo Opera House opened the curtain for The Best of Broadway, a compilation of the best scenes…
Bach wins again
While the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House was staging Swan Lake by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, the…
Brahms twice over
Meticulous in his compositions, Johannes Brahms refused to present anything less than perfect. As such, Brahms’ musical legacy remains among…
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…
Remembering Ziad Bakir
Works by Beethoven and Rageh Daoud pay fitting tribute to the martyrs of the Egyptian revolution Published on 24 March…
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…
Protesters demand end to corruption at Cairo Opera House
Hundreds of the Cairo Opera House administration, technicians and artists joined what they call “Opera corruption cleansing campaign” with protests…
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…
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 –…
Music for Charity
Spiros C. Moros Foundation held a musical event with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, a number of soloists and the Cairo…
Show Dance: Misplaced
A French troupe performing at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House did not give 2011 the best of…
Ati Metwaly 