Spring is here, my dears, and that means you'll find me in a far better mood than I've been in these past few weeks -- filled, as they were, with war, dust and grime. I must say, my sweets, that the weather -- both geopolitical and meteorological -- certainly has a serious effect on my mood, as I'm sure it has on yours as well.
That's why I was ecstatic this past Monday, as all of Egypt celebrated Sham Al- Nessim, that Pharaonic holiday we all adore. In the gardens of Al-Qanater Al- Khayria, thousands enjoyed the flower arrangements organised by Ministry of Irrigation engineer Safia El-Nahhas. Irrigation Minister Mahmoud Abu Zeid, along with Development Minister Mustafa Abdel-Qader and Qaliubiya Governor Adli Hussein, inaugurated the display, which was held in solidarity with the people of Iraq.
At the Exhibition Grounds in Minya, another exhibition of spring flowers was also going on, this one inaugurated by Minya Governor Hassan Hemeida, who also handed out certificates of recognition to those who managed to produce the loveliest floral arrangements there.
At the Nile Hilton, meanwhile, a fun- filled family day took place featuring an exciting egg hunt as well as magic and puppet shows that delighted the children that gathered there to take part. Nile Executive Chef Rolf Jaeggi deserves praise for the delicious lunch buffet he put together for the occasion.
Spring also brings with it changes in schedule, now that the sun is setting an hour after it used to. For my friends the whirling dervishes, that means their thrice- weekly performances (Saturday, Monday and Wednesday) at the Gawhara Theatre in the Salaheddin Citadel now begin at 8pm instead of 7pm. This free performance by the Tannoura Troupe has become a standard on tourists' itineraries, and is a favourite of locals as well. And why shouldn't it be, considering the amazing sight of these talented men spinning round and round accompanied by haunting music that harks back to street carnivals and the glory of the Sufi way? Remember -- you should plan on getting there half an hour in advance to ensure good seats.
On to the world of art! At the Safar Khan Gallery in Zamalek, an exhibition by artist Anna Boghiguian was inaugurated on 25 April. The show includes stunning drawings and watercolours that reveal Boghiguian's vision of Egypt, pulsing, as it is, with energy and life. I should also mention, my sweets, that the artist's newly published book, Anna's Egypt, is also being celebrated as well. The exhibition continues through 25 May.
Another art exhibition is opening at the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation on 4 May. This one is titled "Contemporary Mural", and features the work of artist El-Sayed El-Kammash, who has produced 22 powerful murals using a variety of materials and colours. Cherif El-Choubashi, the first under- secretary for foreign cultural relations at the Ministry of Culture, will be inaugurating the show, which is on display until 15 May.
For the first time in its five-year history, artists from Arab nations will be participating in the annual Pottery Forum organised by the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces, which is headed by my good friend Anas El-Fiqi. The event takes place in Qena, and is a fantastic chance for Arab artists to interact, as well as develop their talents.
The Goethe Institute (Egypt's German Cultural Centre) is organising an encounter between one of the most important contemporary German poets -- Hans Magnus Enzensberger -- and the Iraqi- German poetess Amal El-Jabouri. That meeting will take place at the Artistic Creativity Centre on the Cairo Opera House grounds, on 3 May, and will feature not only the spoken word, but the musical talents of Lebanese vocalist Jahda Wahba as well. East meets West is the obvious theme here, as Enzensberger and El- Jabouri will recite excerpts from their poems while Jahda will chant verses written by German poet Goethe, as well as Arab poets Adonis and Mahmoud Darwish. Her voice -- accompanied by percussionist Hani Bedeir, violinist Ghandour Hussein and Saber Abdel-Sattar on the qannun -- will certainly mesmerise the audience.
It is worth mentioning that El-Jabouri and Enzensberger co-produce a magazine called Diwan which specialises in publishing Arabic and German poetry. El- Jabouri has also translated Enzensberger's poetry into Arabic.
Another great concert is taking place at the fabulous Manasterly Palace, on the banks of the Nile, featuring the internationally renowned French pianist Georges Pludermacher, who will play works by composers such as Beethöven, Bartok, Debussy and Ravel. Pludermacher began to play the piano at the age of three, and was, amazingly enough, accepted into the Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris at the tender age of 11. His daring style is considered by critics to be as original as it is demanding, which has made Pludermacher a regular guest at the world's most important music festivals in Vienna, Edinburgh, Florence, Barcelona and Madrid. The 4 May concert at Manasterly's International Music Centre, then, is certainly not an event to be missed.
As I've mentioned in this space several times before, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has been actively seeking to encourage Egyptian youngsters to take more of an interest in Egypt's glorious Pharaonic past. Most recently, the SCA published a new children's book called The Adventures of Dedi and Snou in the Egyptian Museum. It tells the story of a dancer and a nobleman who -- via an adventure at the museum -- end up learning quite a bit about both the country's history, as well as the amazing treasures in the museum itself (including the recently unearthed treasures from the building's infamous basement). I am proud to announce that my colleague Amal El-Gayar, who works at Al-Ahram's Alexandria office, penned this sweet little book, which also includes a forward by SCA Secretary-General Zahi Hawass and features lovely illustrations by Sherif El- Sayed Sherif. This is El-Gayar's second children's book -- her first effort dealt with Alexandria's rich heritage, and was narrated by no less a historical figure than Alexander the Great.
In a more corporate vein, I am pleased to reveal that Lorenzo Zabrano, the president of multinational cement company CEMEX, recently promoted my dear friend Jose Llontop, the commercial vice-president of CEMEX Egypt (Assiut Cement), to the position of CEMEX Egypt president, beginning 1 May.
Llontop is of Peruvian origin, and studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia in the USA. He also holds a Masters Degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Congratulations are also in order for Tarek El-Housseiny, who was recently appointed as vice-president and general manager for Visa International in Egypt. El-Housseiny will be responsible for the development of Visa's business in Egypt, building on the work of his predecessor, Miah Termanini, who takes up a new position as head of Vendor Relations and Business Solutions for the region. El- Housseiny moved to Visa from American Express, where he was regional country director for Egypt and North Africa.
Pack of Cards
That's why I was ecstatic this past Monday, as all of Egypt celebrated Sham Al- Nessim, that Pharaonic holiday we all adore. In the gardens of Al-Qanater Al- Khayria, thousands enjoyed the flower arrangements organised by Ministry of Irrigation engineer Safia El-Nahhas. Irrigation Minister Mahmoud Abu Zeid, along with Development Minister Mustafa Abdel-Qader and Qaliubiya Governor Adli Hussein, inaugurated the display, which was held in solidarity with the people of Iraq.
Spring also brings with it changes in schedule, now that the sun is setting an hour after it used to. For my friends the whirling dervishes, that means their thrice- weekly performances (Saturday, Monday and Wednesday) at the Gawhara Theatre in the Salaheddin Citadel now begin at 8pm instead of 7pm. This free performance by the Tannoura Troupe has become a standard on tourists' itineraries, and is a favourite of locals as well. And why shouldn't it be, considering the amazing sight of these talented men spinning round and round accompanied by haunting music that harks back to street carnivals and the glory of the Sufi way? Remember -- you should plan on getting there half an hour in advance to ensure good seats.
On to the world of art! At the Safar Khan Gallery in Zamalek, an exhibition by artist Anna Boghiguian was inaugurated on 25 April. The show includes stunning drawings and watercolours that reveal Boghiguian's vision of Egypt, pulsing, as it is, with energy and life. I should also mention, my sweets, that the artist's newly published book, Anna's Egypt, is also being celebrated as well. The exhibition continues through 25 May.
Another art exhibition is opening at the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation on 4 May. This one is titled "Contemporary Mural", and features the work of artist El-Sayed El-Kammash, who has produced 22 powerful murals using a variety of materials and colours. Cherif El-Choubashi, the first under- secretary for foreign cultural relations at the Ministry of Culture, will be inaugurating the show, which is on display until 15 May.
For the first time in its five-year history, artists from Arab nations will be participating in the annual Pottery Forum organised by the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces, which is headed by my good friend Anas El-Fiqi. The event takes place in Qena, and is a fantastic chance for Arab artists to interact, as well as develop their talents.
Another great concert is taking place at the fabulous Manasterly Palace, on the banks of the Nile, featuring the internationally renowned French pianist Georges Pludermacher, who will play works by composers such as Beethöven, Bartok, Debussy and Ravel. Pludermacher began to play the piano at the age of three, and was, amazingly enough, accepted into the Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris at the tender age of 11. His daring style is considered by critics to be as original as it is demanding, which has made Pludermacher a regular guest at the world's most important music festivals in Vienna, Edinburgh, Florence, Barcelona and Madrid. The 4 May concert at Manasterly's International Music Centre, then, is certainly not an event to be missed.
As I've mentioned in this space several times before, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has been actively seeking to encourage Egyptian youngsters to take more of an interest in Egypt's glorious Pharaonic past. Most recently, the SCA published a new children's book called The Adventures of Dedi and Snou in the Egyptian Museum. It tells the story of a dancer and a nobleman who -- via an adventure at the museum -- end up learning quite a bit about both the country's history, as well as the amazing treasures in the museum itself (including the recently unearthed treasures from the building's infamous basement). I am proud to announce that my colleague Amal El-Gayar, who works at Al-Ahram's Alexandria office, penned this sweet little book, which also includes a forward by SCA Secretary-General Zahi Hawass and features lovely illustrations by Sherif El- Sayed Sherif. This is El-Gayar's second children's book -- her first effort dealt with Alexandria's rich heritage, and was narrated by no less a historical figure than Alexander the Great.
In a more corporate vein, I am pleased to reveal that Lorenzo Zabrano, the president of multinational cement company CEMEX, recently promoted my dear friend Jose Llontop, the commercial vice-president of CEMEX Egypt (Assiut Cement), to the position of CEMEX Egypt president, beginning 1 May.
Congratulations are also in order for Tarek El-Housseiny, who was recently appointed as vice-president and general manager for Visa International in Egypt. El-Housseiny will be responsible for the development of Visa's business in Egypt, building on the work of his predecessor, Miah Termanini, who takes up a new position as head of Vendor Relations and Business Solutions for the region. El- Housseiny moved to Visa from American Express, where he was regional country director for Egypt and North Africa.
