		Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 15 - 21 March 2001 Issue No.525
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Pack of Cards

By Madame Sosostris

More opera house news was reported by my colleague Reham El-Adawi: Minister of National Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Hungary Zoltàn Rockenbauer, Cairo Opera House director Samir Farag and director of the Hungarian Cultural Office in Cairo Imre Làzàr held a press conference at the Opera House to discuss cultural collaboration between both countries. The three discussed the possibility of implementing a protocol signed by Farag during his recent tour of Hungary concerning the exchange of music and dance troupes between the opera of Budapest and the Cairo Opera House and the future co-production of an opera. The press conference marked the inauguration of "Days of Hungarian Culture in Cairo," lasting until 29 March, which includes Hungarian folk music and dance by the …KR…S Ensemble. The cultural programme is organised to mark Hungary's National Day on 15 March, as well as the anniversary of its 1848 revolution. It will also include film screenings and art exhibitions.

My very favourite singer in the world, dears, is Magda Al-Roumi, who not only sings like an angel but looks like one. Well, imagine my joy when I heard that the Rotary of Madinet Nasr, under the auspices of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, was organising a Magda Al-Roumi gala recital at the Opera House last Sunday, which I, of course, was invited to attend. I must say that the more I see and hear the accomplished artist, the more new facets of her style and art I discover. This time was no exception. She looked so incredibly ethereal in her sober black dress that she simply stunned the audience. At the end of the concert Raymond Iskandar, chairman of the board of the Rotary of Madinet Nasr, came on stage to offer her a magnificent silver plate and announced to the audience that Magda Al-Roumi was donating her entire cachet to the charities on behalf of which the event was organised, namely several orphanages and organisations working for the prevention of blindness in children.

Recently the British Council in Alexandria, in cooperation with the European Community, organised an inter-cultural music festival in which the renowned Nubian singer Mohamed Munir was invited to participate. You may not believe this, but the mixture of Western music produced by the bands hailing from England and Wales and the warm tones of Mohamed Munir's voice were just explosive. I just wonder why no one though about doing it before.

Going down Ramses Street just before reaching Tawfiqiya, I am sure that you noticed the very handsome building on the corner with its numerous mashrabiya windows. Previously the Institute of Arabic Music, it has become, after renovation, the iconic singer-composer-actor Mohamed Abdel-Wahab's museum. Assembled by the Cairo Opera House, the exhibits will soon be on display in the building, which is at present getting a last coat of paint in time for the inauguration scheduled for May, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Abdel-Wahab's death. Culture Minister Farouk Hosni stated that the museum will be affiliated to the Cairo Opera House, where concerts by various Arabic music ensembles will be organised in the near future. During his recent visit to Italy, Hosni reached an agreement with two Italian experts to share in decorating the museum's interior. Abdel-Wahab's wife, Nahla El-Qoudsy, and Opera House director Samir Farag recently paid a visit to the museum to decide which of the artist's memorabilia is to be shown.

In recognition of his prominent achievements, and his outstanding contribution to world culture, Zahi Hawass, director general of the Giza plateau and Bahariya Oasis, was awarded international membership of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RANS), for outstanding scholars, Nobel Laureates and statesmen in the field of science, culture, and economy. Until recently, Egypt was represented only by Dr Butros Butros Ghali.

To mark this event, the RANS will award Hawass the Silver Pavel Tretiajiv Medal, a prestigious international decoration named after Pavel Tretiajiv, an outstanding Russian patron of the arts.

This of course is not the first time Hawass's talents have been recognised: late last year he was awarded the American Academy of Achievements' Golden Plate and the glass obelisk of the American scholars.

You know, darlings, how partial I am to the events taking place at the AUC's Sony Gallery. This time, in collaboration with the Rare Books and Special Collections Library, they are organising a Van Leo exhibition titled The Chronology and opening on 20 March in celebration of Cairo's master photographer, recipient of the 2000 Prince Claus Award. I do hope that, like me, you will make it a point to attend this rare event.

When the Ministry of Education's department of pre-schools decided to organise a musical education competition, the tiny tots at Al-Tala'i' Islamic School Kindergarten knew they would have a memorable time. What they could not have suspected, on the other hand, was the fact that they would bring their school first prize for Giza governorate. Well, I am pleased as punch that they did so well, and heartily congratulate the school's head, Dr Zahira Abdin, and Mona Abul-Seoud, the kindergarten's principal; but what I enjoyed the most, my lovelies, was the event itself. It started early in the morning, with the little ones in brightly hued peasant garb. The whole day was inspired by rural themes, and the guests enjoyed every bit of it. I especially appreciated the chewy naddagha and tasty 'asaliya, molasses sweets that were distributed with a generosity typical of country dwellers.

Munching away, I spied my dear colleague Nesmahar Sayed, who told me that she had spent three years teaching at the school and was now returning to enjoy the festivities with her old friends.

The atmosphere was that of a fairground or open-air market, and I browsed for a while among the eggs and cheese offered for sale. Hens, pigeons and ducks clucked merrily, while sheep bleated in the background. Nearby, women were working industriously, washing clothes in copper tubs, kneading dough and baking bread for breakfast. From the windows of the houses, I glimpsed the school's playground, transformed for the occasion into a plot where cows and buffaloes were tilling the soil.

Then the fun started, with songs from the rural heritage, and much gleeful clapping and stamping. The children sang and danced -- and even those dressed as poultry participated enthusiastically in the general merriment.

More commemorations, dears by the Cervantes Institute (the Spanish Cultural Centre in Cairo) this time, which will organise a conference to mark the date of Spanish novelist Leopoldo Alas Clar’n's death. It is scheduled to be held at the Faculty of Languages at Ain Shams University from 19 to 22 March. The Institute is inviting a group of renowned authors, novelists and critics such as Germàn Gullón, Jose Mar’a Merino and Jean Francois Botrel to talk about Clar’n as a short story writer, his works in relation to the 19th century novel and his sharp focus on the European intellect. All thanks to my good friend, dynamic Antonio Gil de Carrasco, head of the Cervantes Institute.

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