14 - 20 March 2002
Issue No.577
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 14 - 20 March 2002 Issue No.577 |
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Pack of Cards
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Darlings, I love to walk hand-in-hand, so I did when I heard about The American University in Cairo's Hand in Hand (HIH) charity club -- established under the auspices of AUC in October 2000, for the elderly people of Egypt. On 15 March, the club will organise a charity concert to collect donations devoted to building a home for the elderly in Six October City. What a lovely idea, my dears! The concert at AUC's Greek Campus will feature pop singer Hisham Abbass, Edward and his Gypsies band, and promising vocalist Tamer Hosni. The event is scheduled to be attended by actors Hussein Fahmi, Mahmoud Qabil and gorgeous actress Youssra who all expressed their belief in the club's cause and raising awareness about the problems facing the elderly in Egypt. Delightful! Among its past achievements is the Mother's Day donation campaign which the club launched collecting about LE6,000 -- allocated for helping the elders financially. It has four main objectives: looking after elders primarily through satisfying their psychological needs, hence providing them with sense of security. It will also provide them with the necessary financial support, and satisfy their material needs through donations and fundraising events. And then, my dears, something truly heart-warming, the club aims to close the generation gap by connecting the old, young, and very young. Finally, it will raise the awareness of the public to the needs of the elderly, and spread a sense of responsibility towards them among the youth. This makes me feel much more comfortable about my age!
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My dears, at the Manasterly Palace in Al-Manial, under the direction of the distinguished Ramzi Yassa, the International Music Centre will present a piano recital by the British pianists Olga Balakleets and Julian Gallant, on 17 March. The piano duet will play works by Brahms, Schubert, Faure and others. The spectacular Balakleets- Gallant duo was formed in 1997 with the aim of exploiting a vast and fascinating repertoire for the pianos and piano duet. Abroad, the duo has given recitals in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, The Hermitage Theatre in St Petersburg and at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow. Most recently, they recorded a compact disc of music by Poulenc, Auric and Milhaud. Balakleets appeared with many UK orchestras and ensembles including the BBC Big Band. She is also founder and artistic director of the Russian Chamber Orchestra of London, and has performed in Italy, France, Greece, Austria, North and South America and China. Gallant also travelled widely as a solo pianist and appeared in many great halls of Western Europe, notably London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Liszt Academy in Budapest. His first recording was a recital of works by Chopin, Brahms and Liszt and his second disc is entitled "Piano of our time." It is sure to be a spectacular event of mind-awing tunes. Darlings, don't miss it.
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Oh, how happy I was to hear the news. After the great success of Mikis Theodorakis's Zorba ballet performed last month at the Cairo Opera House, a new show is to be showcased from 15 to 19 March. Under the artistic supervision of Abdel-Moneim Kamel, the Cairo Opera Ballet Company will feature -- among other artists -- Hani Hassan, who will play the role of Zorba. The new performance is directed by choreographer Lorca Massine accompanied by Cairo Opera Orchestra and A cappella choir conducted by Giorgio Crocci. Attendees of the last show will be overjoyed.
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Who says that children these days are spoiled and no longer serious? Ahmed Wael Nadim won the gold medal in the under-10 national judo championship held in Cairo Stadium early this month. Nadim, a member of the Shams Club, was awarded a certificate by the Egyptian Judo, Aikido and Sumo Federation stating he had come first in the 30-kilogramme weight category. Congratulations!!!
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A great event is happening today. The opening of Egypt's section of the international Museums With No Frontiers (MWNF) is taking place as we speak. Coupled with that, the MWNF group is launching their book Mamluk Art, which, the Weekly family boasts, showcases photos by our own, very special photographer. The project reflects a joint effort between the European Union, the Ministry of Culture's Foreign Cultural Relations Department, the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, and Austria's Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And as you tour around Cairo's Mamluke sites, you will notice signs denoting the monuments which comprise MWNF. A truly wonderful idea conceived by the ingenious mind of Eva Schubert.
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It makes me so proud when I hear such wonderful news, especially when it has to do with my passion: books. Dar El-Shorouk Publishing House won the New Horizons award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair for its entry of Agmal Al-Hikayat Al-Shaabiya (Most Beautiful Folktales). The children's book illustrated by Helmi El-Touni and authored by Yaacoub El-Sharouni derives from the artistic and technical tradition of wood engraving and printing. The decisive black outlines oblige the reader to take a new child-like look at illustrations drawn with bold strokes that accompany the narration of traditional tales and legends. A perfect gift for the little ones.
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Delightful, delightful. With pomp and ceremony, Harrod's Fine Furniture Collection opened on 8 March in Syria Street, Mohandessin. Yes, Cairo! Her Excellency Raine Countess Spencer, director of international sales and board- member of Harrods attended on behalf of Mohamed El-Fayed, chairman of Harrods. The shop showcases reproductions of unique pieces of 17th and 18th Century British furniture, found in the archives of Harrods, Knightsbridge. The opening reflects the partnering of Egyptian businessman Muntasar Abu Ghali and El-Fayed. Harrods, those dears of you that didn't know, is a part of the Abu Ghali group. The opening was spectacular, attended by all of society's most distinguished personalities. My dears, you must go and experience the delight.
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I am so excited my darlings. I have been waiting for this for years. The opening of a real bookshop!
With armchairs and coffee and a children's section! How I miss that from my yearly visits to the US: the luxury of spending days on end engrossed in the bookshop culture. I am delighted at the opening of Diwan in Zamalek, on 26th July Street (next to Maison Thomas). From now on, if you need me, just come to Diwan -- I will certainly be there! |
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My dears, it was such a delightful event. At Cervantes Institute (The Spanish Cultural Centre in Egypt), "Granada 7 Jardines" (Granada 7 Gardens), by consummate Spanish artist José Manuel Darro was inaugurated by director of the institute Antonio Gil de Carrasco. It was a wonderfully spirited event attended by a large contingency of Egypt's Spanish community. The exhibition, which runs through 20 March, showcases oil paintings reflecting various techniques and themes. Darro is one of the famous contemporary Andalusian painters known for his sculpted and engraved pieces. The artefacts are overwhelmed by his literary background and the atmosphere of Granada city where he resides. Darro enriched his talent through rigorous artistic studies in Italy and the United States. He has had several solo exhibitions in Japan, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland among others. A true delight of an exhibit, my dears.
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