Issue No. 608
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17 - 23 October 2002 Issue No. 608 People |
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The ravishing performance of opera Aida 2002 at the foot of the Great Pyramids in Giza, was witnessed by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak , along with 150 distinguished international figures. Others guests included director of the World Bank James Wolfelesson and his wife, daughter of US Vice President Dick Cheney, 20 British members of parliament, members of the US Senate, Syrian Minister of Defence Mustafa Tallas, Syrian Minister of Culture Nagwa Al- Qassab, princes and princesses from the Gulf countries, as well as members from the Egyptian Diplomatic Corps. This year, the opera that lasted four hours featured 700 artists including soloists, choir singers and musicians of the Cairo Opera Orchestra. For the first time, the orchestra was conducted by Egyptian maestro Nader Abbassi, after his Italian peer excused himself on grounds of poor health. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moufid Shehab invited over 150 students -- representing the class-valedictorians of all Egyptian universities -- to attend the opera for free.
One event certain to conjure up nostalgia and whimsical memories of past times is the opening of a painting exhibition by the late consumate painter Sabry Ragheb. The exhibit, to be inaugurated at Al-Shomou' Art Gallery by Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni on 20 October, is possible due to the efforts of Lotus gallery owner Lotus Abdel- Karim -- who will also partake in the inauguration.
Once again, the time of year came around for the American University in Cairo's annual Alumni Gala Dinner. The event -- held at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel's Tiba Hall, brought together hundreds of graduates from around the world. Old friends reminisced about the good old days, as did the current AUC interim President Thomas Bartlett who was previously president of AUC from 1963-1968. Two special awards were presented: one to Youssef Abdel-Latif Jameel in recognition of his commitment to establish the Business School on AUC's new campus. The second award, the Alumni Volunteer Award, was given to Laila Doss -- who along with seven other women established the Society of Tahseen Al-Seha in 1936.The Distinguished Alumni Awards were granted to several sparkling colleagues. One of them was renowned actress and Al-Ahram Weekly's very own Limelight columnist Lubna Abdel-Aziz. She was singled out for her contribution to the film industry. During her brief career, Abdel-Aziz starred in a variety of films covering a wide range of styles, from romantic comedy to historical, political and social dramas. In addition she has continued to produce and direct her own weekly radio programme, Children's Corner, in which she stars as Auntie Loulou. Alumni Awards also went to former US Ambassador to Bahrain Sam Zakhem, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Arab African International Bank Hassan Abdallah, and Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Al- Ahram Beverages Sherif Allaa El-Zayat. The Weekly congratulates Lubna on the well- deserved recognition.
My dynamic friend Mona Makram Ebeid, former member of parliament and professor of political science at the AUC has been invited by Ambassador Martin Indyk to share in one of the main sessions of the 2002 Doha Conference on US relations with the Islamic world, which will be held on 18 and 19 October 2002. Ebeid will lead the discussion on what is related to social and economic development in the Islamic world. The conference will be opened by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa and includes among its participants intellectuals Youssef El-Qaradawi, Thomas Friedman, Farid Zakaria as well as Shebley Talhami and Ibrahim Karawan
As agreed between Turkish Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay and his Egyptian peer Farouk Hosni last April, the internationally renowned Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble will perform Sufi music and dance rituals at Sunqur Saadi Medrasah in Helmiya, the American University in Cairo's Ewart Hall and the Cairo Opera House's Main Hall, on 18, 20 and 21 October. The performances, conducted by Ahmet Yilmaz, will be followed by ritual ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes. The world-applauded group is not to be missed.
The Pro Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland together with Goethe Institute and the Royal Netherlands Cultural Fund announce the beginning of the activities of Jadayel Festival which includes theatre, dance, storytelling, readings, short films, fine arts, music and workshops. The festival will take place from 20 until 31 October. A work by Swiss director Peter Braschler blends together different cultures and arts and portrays them through a series of interviews conducted in Cairo and Switzerland. The work, Sheherazade Now -- which looks at human relations, love and betrayals -- will take place from 23-30 October at Beit Al-Harrawi.
At the opulent Mena House Oberoi Hotel, spiritual leader of Al-Wafd political party Yassin Serageddin and his wife Awatef Serageddin celebrated the wedding of their granddaughter Sherine -- daughter of pilot Magdi Kamal and Laila Serageddin -- to orthodontist Hisham, son of Egypt's former ambassador in Thailand Mohamed El-Azzazi. The magnificent party was attended by a bevy of senior state officials and prominent figures. They included, Minister of Information Safwat El-Sherif, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moufid Shehab and his wife, Giza Governor Mahmoud Abul-Leil, Qaliubiya Governor Adli Hussein, head of the Administrative Control Authority Hitler Tantawi, head of the Supreme Constitutional Court Fathi Naguib, former Minister of Development Yehia El-Gamal and caricaturist Mustafa Hussein. The party was livened by belly-dancer Dina
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