12 - 18 April 2001
Issue No.529
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 April 2001 Issue No.529 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Pack of Cards
*Darlings, have you ever visited the Chinese Garden at the Cairo International Conference Centre? Don't you find it divinely peaceful? And what better place could have been found to launch a mega festival (aptly titled "The Spring Festival") on 16 April, at which a group of highly popular young singers will perform? You will have a chance to hear Hisham Abbas, Bahaa Sultan, Sha'ban Abdel-Rehim as well as aspiring stars Tamer Hosni and Mariam Nouh. From Lebanon, the ebullient 4Cats troupe, invited specially to participate in this festival, will seize the opportunity to tour Egypt's historical sites and tourist attractions.
Organiser of the festival Mohamed Abdel-Azim is hoping that his initiative will attract crowds from all walks of life. |
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The exhibition comprises the works of more than 30 artists and I was pleased to recognise those of my dear friends Aida Erian and Fadia Makram Ebeid. Among the other exhibitors I particularly noticed Ashraf Ibrahim El-Nahhas, Omayma Khattab, Injy El-Iraqi, Dina Radi, Sherine Khallaf and Wadie Fahmi. Another section of this interesting show is devoted to works by children aged seven to 15, who were quite ably represented by the artistic endeavours of Rana Auf, Karim Ahmed Madkour, Yousra Hatem and several others. |
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*Our music, darlings, is travelling far and wide. Not only is Arabic music now popular in many countries, but a number of our singers have also become household names and are recognised internationally. I was therefore not at all surprised when I heard that one of our musical ensembles would be performing in Paris. Well, I was right, dears, to predict that they would be a smashing success. No less than 1,400 spectators went to the UNESCO Hall in Paris to attend a concert by the Abdel-Halim Noweira Arabic Music Ensemble, conducted by maestro Salah Ghoubashi. The event, which commemorated the anniversary of the death of singer and composer the legendary Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, featured singer Mohamed Sarwat and Cairo Opera House vocalist Sahar Nagui. Among those who enjoyed the programme were Egyptian Ambassador to Paris Ali Maher, representatives of the UNESCO, Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris Nasser El-Ansari and Cairo Opera House Secretary-General Shukri El-Homsani.
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The list of the generous sponsors of this scheme is long, but let me just name a few: British Airways, Bank HSBC Misr, Shalaqani Law Office, Vodaphone, British Gas, MobiNil, Cairo Barclays and the Arab British Chamber Charitable Foundation. I was pleased to know that the number of beneficiaries has now risen to 50 a year. | ||||
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The festival will also include a comic item by the stand-up comedian Islam Mohie, and will honour the famous football player Hossam Hassan for being the world's most internationally capped player. The finale will include a competition of young beauties aspiring to become this year's Miss Spring. I was told that more than 300 competitors from Egypt and the Arab world will be taking part. I really wonder if I should not look into this event more closely, although when I mentioned it a dear friend of mine suggested that I should rather wait for the Miss Winter pageant. You would be amazed at some of the things jealousy can make people say!
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