Pack of Cards

* Every day, my dears, on my way to work, my heart soars as I pass by that beautiful architectural wonder of yore -- the building housing the Arabic Music Institute on Ramses Street downtown. These days, as renovations at the building near their completion, I am even more delighted, for once again, that feeling of glory exuded by both the structure itself, and the wonderful music that used to pour out of it, are set to come alive again.

My good friend Samir Farag, who heads the Opera House, under whose auspices the Institute belongs, told me all about the fantastic plans for the Institute once the renovations are complete, which should be any day now. For one thing, there is a library which will preserve invaluable and rare books and manuscripts describing the country's rich musical heritage. The activities of the Arab Oud House, supervised by the Iraqi oud master Nasser Shamma, will also move to the refurbished building of the Institute. An auditorium which is now equipped with state-of-the-art technology will host Arabic music concerts. But perhaps the brightest stars of all in this multi-use facility (which was, by the way, built back in 1923 during the reign of King Fouad I -- way before my time, that's for sure) are the two museums: one dedicated to the late legendary singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, and the other showcasing rare musical instruments. Abdel-Wahab's museum is divided into several rooms that display the artist's memorabilia and contain huge screens showing his movies. Also on display are the medals he received, selected pieces of his belongings such as his piano, glasses and his favourite rocking chair, in which he died, as well as a larger than life statue of Abdel-Wahab that sculptor Mohamed Thabet built especially for the Institute. The rare musical instruments museum shows memorabilia that goes back to the age of Mohamed Ali. The instruments, pipe, wind or percussion, are displayed in a way that provides the visitor with detailed information on their history, sounds and the first musicians to play them.

Since he adopted Geneva as his new home, Gamil has been sorely missed. His work brings tears of sorrow and joy to my eyes. His latest, a Dar Al-Hilal publication, is called Nakhla Ala Al-Haffa (A Palm Tree At the Edge). With inimitable intimacy and startling honesty, managing to incorporate all the dreamy beauty of his youthful days, Gamil deals with current affairs: 11 September, the war in Afghanistan, Israel's aggression. Fast-paced, engaging, delightful, this novel is dearly recommended.