The Minister of Culture witnesses the Opera House’s celebration of its thirty-seventh anniversary

Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, witnessed the grand celebration held by the Egyptian Opera House, headed by Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, on the occasion of its thirty-seventh anniversary, in the presence of Fumio Iwai, the Japanese ambassador to Cairo, and a large audience of lovers of fine arts.

 

In his speech, the Minister of Culture announced that the celebration of the June 30th Revolution will be held next. From the oasis of culture in the 6th of October City, affiliated with the Egyptian Opera House, that new beacon that opens a new chapter in the process of Egyptian creativity. Its audience is a window through which they can view the finest human creativity, including music, singing, ballet and opera.

 

He explained that the Egyptian Opera House, since its opening, has become a cultural icon, a home for fine art, and a renewed message confirming that Egypt will always remain an incubator of beauty and a center of civilization. He pointed out that Egypt’s artistic history testifies that it was a pioneer when Khedive Ismail inaugurated the “Khedive Opera.” As the first opera house on the African continent and the Arab world, it has since become a mirror through which Egypt looks at the world and a cultural message expressing its openness to high arts.

 

He added that the Khedive Opera, despite its departure in the sixties of the last century, its presence remained alive in memory until it was reincarnated in the modern Egyptian Opera House, which restored Cairo has its own artistic pulse and global voice.

 

The Minister extended his greetings and appreciation to the artist Farouk Hosni, the former Minister of Culture, who came up with the idea of establishing the new opera, and to the friendly country of Japan, which contributed to establishing this great cultural achievement. He also appreciated the efforts of everyone who participated in the construction, including engineers, artists, and workers, and to everyone who assumed the presidency of the Opera House and contributed to Enriching its message and elevating its status.

 

The minister said: “Over the course of about a year and a half since I assumed the duties of the Ministry of Culture, I have witnessed here, on the stage of this theater and among its corridors, precious and unforgettable moments.” Moments that left their mark in the heart and memory: the Day of Culture, honoring creators and recipients of state awards, and that moment full of gratitude when Sir Magdi Yacoub stood among us, a symbol of human giving that knows no bounds.

And from here I also experienced the magic of the Arab Music Festival, the joy of the national and experimental theatre, the glow of the Cairo Film Festival, the innocence of the young creator, and the spirituality of the Prophet’s birthday. And the enthusiasm of the October victories.

 

For his part, Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, President of the Egyptian Opera House, paid tribute to the Minister of Culture for his continuous support for the opera’s activities and performances, stressing that the opera has succeeded, over the course of 37 years, in being a beacon of fine arts and a bridge connecting Egyptian heritage and the spirit of global contemporary, thanks to the faith of… The Egyptian state recognizes the importance of the arts in building cultural identity, and the efforts of artists, workers, and success partners from the media and the art-loving public.

 

He pointed out that the Egyptian opera troupes present various performances of Arabic, classical, operatic, and ballet music, which contribute to preparing new generations with a love for fine art. The opera’s mission also extends to education and artistic qualification through the Talent Development Center, which It provides opportunities to discover and nurture young creators.

 

The president of the opera stressed that this cultural edifice will continue its journey towards providing the best, to remain a beacon of artistic and cultural radiance that Egypt is proud of.

 

The artistic performances began from the main lobby, where the Children’s Choir of the Development Center performed The talents were led by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Sattar, a bouquet of traditional and contemporary songs, followed on the grand stage by an integrated artistic show with the vision and direction of the artist Walid Aouni, the executive director Mahdi Al-Sayed, and the presentation of the journalist Sherif Nour El-Din, which embodied the richness of the fine arts that the Egyptian Opera House specializes in.

 

The segments included performances of Arabic music under the supervision of Amani Al-Saeed, led by Maestro Dr. Mustafa Helmy and Maestro Ahmed Amer, with the participation of the Arab Music Choir and the Cairo Opera Choir, then the Cairo Opera Orchestra led by Maestro Ahmed Farag, who presented pieces from the world heritage and eternal Egyptian music.

 

The modern theatrical dance troupe also participated in a performance from the Sheherazade ballet. Designed by Walid Aouni, the evening concluded with the triumphant scene from the opera Aida by the Italian composer Verdi, with the participation of the Cairo Opera and Cairo Opera Ballet companies and a number of Egyptian opera stars.

 

The celebration included the screening of a documentary film that reviewed the history of the Egyptian Opera House from its inception until today, including rare scenes from The Khedivial Opera, prepared by the Montage Studio and directed by Samer Madi.

 

The opera also invited a number of members of the Qulub Al-Khair Association for the Blind to attend the evening, emphasizing its societal role in spreading the arts among various segments of society.

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