Sunday 27 October
Last showing of opera 'Aida' at Cairo Opera House, 7pm
A three-day showing of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida will end on Sunday. The opera is directed by the late Abdel-Moneim Kamel in collaboration with executive director Abdalla Saad. The performance includes artists from the Cairo Opera Company, the Cairo Opera Orchestra under the baton of Nayer Nagui, the Cairo Opera Ballet Company with artistic director Erminia Kamel, the Cairo Opera Choir, and the Acapella Choir with choirmaster Aldo Magnato.
Aida is part of the Cairo Opera House's celebration of Verdi's bicentennial, which also includes an exhibition of Viva Villa Verdi. Read more here.
Main hall of the Cairo Opera House, Zamalek
Screening of Ombline at the French Institute in Alexandria, 7pm
The French film Ombline, directed by Stephane Cazes and featuring actress Mélanie Thierry, was released in 2012. Described as "a real women's story," the movie won the Grand Prix at the Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival. Check the trailer below.
30, El Nabi Danial St., Mahatet Misr, Alexandria
Cairo Piano Trio at Manasterly Palace, 8pm
The International Music Centre will launch its programme at the Manasterly Palace with a concert by Cairo Piano Trio. The trio, including Mohamed Saleh on piano, Mohamed Salah Mahmoud on cello, and Yasser Ghonem on violin, will perform works by Beethoven. Read more here.
Manasterly Palace, Rhoda Island, next to the Nilometre.
Monday 28 October
Screening of Ombline at the French Institute in Mounira, 7pm
The French film Ombline, directed by Stephane Cazes and featuring actress Mélanie Thierry, was released in 2012. Described as "a real women's story," the movie won the Grand Prix at the Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival.
1 Madrasset El-Huquq El-Frenseya, off of Kasr El-Eini Street, Cairo
Tuesday 29 October
True West at the Falaki Theatre, 7pm
True West, a play by Sam Shepard, is directed by American University in Cairo alum Gehad El-Sheikh. The play looks into the relationship between two brothers after five years of separation. True West premiered at Gerhard Theatre earlier this month and will be staged for three consecutive days at Falaki Theatre: 29, 30 and 31 October.
113 Kasr El-Ainy St. (on AUC campus), Downtown, Cairo
Wednesday 30 October
Lecture at the Alexandria's Sayed Darwish Theatre, 11am
Hassan Sharara, a renowned Egyptian violinist, will hold a lecture during which he will present folk dances with the Alexandria Opera House String Orchestra. The evening will also include ballet dancer Omar El-Guindy
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre), 22 El-Horreya Road (formerly known as Fouad St.), El-Raml Station, Alexandria
Exhibition opening at the The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture, 5.30pm
"Faces and Features: Caricatures of Indian and Egyptian personalities" is an exhibition featuring works by members of the Egyptian Caricature Society. The collection includes depictions of prominent Indian figures from the field of politics, art, literature, and cinema, to be shown alongside leading Egyptians in similar fields. The exhibition will remain open until 14 November, except for Fridays and Saturdays.
23, Talaat Harb, Downtown, Cairo
Quatuor Voce concert at the French Institute in Mounira, 8pm
Since its foundation in France in 2004, the Quartet Voce performs a large repertoire for a string quartet. Their first CD, including compositions by Schubert, received acclaim from both critics and the public. In Cairo, the quartet will perform Bartok and Beethoven. Check the interview with Quatuor Voce from their tour in Europe, below.
1 Madrasset El-Huquq El-Frenseya, off of Kasr El-Eini Street
Thursday 31 October
Abo Yusef raps at El Genaina Theatre, 7pm
Egyptian rapper Abu Yusef will perform at El Genaina Theatre. His songs discuss such down-to-earth topics as old Egyptian movies, video games, and the Egyptian streets. He has become very popular, especially due to his song entitled "Sbagetti."
Al Azhar Park, Al Darasa, Salah Salem Road, Cairo
A Plastic Dream at Al-Tali'a theatre, 8pm
A Plastic Dream is the product of an improvisation workshop written and directed by Shady El-Dali, and performed by Samar Galal, Fahd Ibrahim, Ahmed Yehia, Randa Essam, Mohamed Mosaad, Mahmoud Sami, Weam Essam, Rana Hamdy, Ruba Sherif, Hend El-Shimi and Shehab Youness. The play discusses freedom and happiness, telling the story of a generation that holds very big dreams entwined with difficult social and political realities. Check the play's trailer below.
The performance will show until 25 November, daily except Tuesdays and Fridays.
Al-Tali'a theatre, behind the National Theatre, Azbakia Park (Near the Attaba metro station), Cairo
Saturday 2 November
Cairo Symphony Orchestra to perform at the Cairo Opera House, 7pm
The Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hisham Gabr, will perform Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 77 and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88. The violin soloist is Islam Nour.
Main hall of the Cairo Opera House, Zamalek
Sunday 3 November
Sharkiat Fathy Salama at Cairo Opera's open air theatre, 7pm
Egyptian musician, arranger, producer, composer and 2004 Grammy Award winner Fathy Salama will indulge audiences with an electric performance by his band, Sharkiat. Salama launched his band in 1998, which to this day gives hundreds of concerts and continues to tour the world's jazz music festivals.
Open Air Theatre, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek
"Ugly Feelings" at the Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Arts
Curated by Ania Szremski, "Ugly Feelings" is an exhibition about emotional states such as anxiety, irritation, envy, and lethargy. These are emotions that make one feel uncomfortable, and are sometimes difficult to justify, causing them to be dismissed as relatively banal.
The exhibition opened on 20 October and will continue until 20 November, daily, except Fridays and Saturdays.
Hussein El-Memar Pasha Street, off Mahmoud Basyouni Street, Downtown, Cairo
