With summer time in full swing, my sweets, my thoughts often stray towards the wonderful world of music. Quite recently, my good friend Sobhi Bedeir, the gifted tenor who is also the Cairo Opera Company's artistic director, was granted the prestigious Italian star of honour. Bedeir was being recognised by no less than Italian President Carlo Ciampi, via Italian Ambassador to Cairo Mario Sica. The celebration took place at the Italian Embassy, on the 57th anniversary of Italy's National Day, with Bedeir being feted for his unique artistic abilities, as well as his cooperation -- as a representative of the Cairo Opera House -- with the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo.
Bedeir -- who joined the Cairo Opera Company in 1976 -- has represented Egypt in several international festivals and competitions for operatic singing, garnering numerous prizes and awards.
Speaking of awards, at the recent ninth Radio and Television Festival, Al-Ahram Weekly's very own back-page columnist Lubna Abdel-Aziz was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award -- one of only a handful given out -- for her radio docudrama The Stranger. Abdel-Aziz also picked up the festival's Gold Prize and LE5000.
The Stranger -- produced by the Cultural Radio Network headed by Omaima Kamel -- revolves around efforts to retrieve priceless Egyptian antiquities that have lived as "strangers" in foreign lands, museums and private collections around the world. The show features the Goddess Isis sending an envoy to Earth to check on ancient Egypt's lost legacy. The envoy travels in search of his country's treasures, consoling a tearful Nefertiti in Berlin, a nostalgic Rosetta Stone at the British Museum in London, and a homesick Zodiac of Denderra at Paris's Louvre.
Abdel-Aziz sought the help of Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary- General Zahi Hawass, who recounts, during the programme, the efforts being made by the SCA to retrieve those treasures that continue to be "strangers" in other lands. Veteran entertainer Samir Sabry provided the voice of the Rosetta Stone, while radio personalities Mohamed Islam, Ashraf El-Guindy, and Neveen Shoukry played the roles of the Zodiac of Denderra, the envoy, and Isis, respectively.
The Stranger -- directed by Mohamed Khaled -- will be broadcast in the very near future on Radio Cairo.
Meanwhile, my sweets, our very own Youssef Rakha recently spoke to members of the Asian Diplomatic Group (ADG) about culture and the press -- a topic to which many of the seasoned diplomats, more used to political analyses and the fine points of international relations, were gratefully responsive.
Held at the Conrad Hotel, and followed by a lavish buffet dinner, the talk was hosted by the Thai Embassy, represented by Phasit Chudabuddhi, who graciously organised and presided over the event. Also present at the podium was the Japanese diplomat Hiroyasu Kobayashi, president of the ADG.
Speaking of diplomats, German Ambassador Baron Paul Von Maltzahn, who will soon be leaving Cairo at the end of his term, was the guest of honour at a dinner reception recently held by Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El- Beltagui at the Nile Hilton's rooftop restaurant, the Rotisserie Belvedere. Chris Ehmann, the hotel's director of operations, greeted the minister and the ambassador upon their arrival.
India: Mysteries and Keys, an Arabic book written by the distinguished Egyptian diplomat and writer Ihab El- Sherif, will be released tonight at the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture. The book, which contains a great many colour photographs of every day life in India, has been widely acclaimed in its pre-release publicity. El- Sherif -- who has perfected the art of writing via photography -- has produced a book filled with both an abundance of information, and exuding the elegance of diplomacy. El- Sherif travelled extensively in India during his term at the Egyptian Embassy in New Delhi in the 1990s.
Speaking of photography, the American University in Cairo's Sony Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition titled "War in Iraq". Featuring the work of 16 Associated Press (AP) photographers, the show was inaugurated by Earleen Fisher, AP's chief of Middle East Services. The 36 photographs on display were shot with digital cameras, and will remain on display at the Sony until 11 September.
At the garden of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, a celebration was recently held to honour the first batch of graduates from the museum's newly established School of Antiquities. Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary- General Zahi Hawass said the school's aims included raising awareness of our rich ancient heritage amongst the younger generations. According to Hawass, a new high school for antiquities studies will also be established in Zamalek, offering its students an official certificate in the field.
Ali Radwan, the head of the Arab Archaeologists Association, as well as antiquities lovers like actor Nour El-Sherif, who heads the Egyptian Museum Lovers Association, and actress Nadia Lotfy, were also on hand to witness the commemoration of the museum school's 60 fresh graduates. Iraqi oud master Nassir Shamma was also there, mesmerising the audience with his masterful music.
And last but not least, my loves, my most heartfelt congratulations go out to our dear colleague Nesmahar El- Sayed, on the occasion of the birth of her beautiful new baby girl -- Shahd. The happy mother is taking a well- deserved rest from her duties here at the paper to make sure her newborn is well taken care of. We wish her the best of luck, and look forward to following Shahd's progress over the coming years.
Pack of Cards
With summer time in full swing, my sweets, my thoughts often stray towards the wonderful world of music. Quite recently, my good friend Sobhi Bedeir, the gifted tenor who is also the Cairo Opera Company's artistic director, was granted the prestigious Italian star of honour. Bedeir was being recognised by no less than Italian President Carlo Ciampi, via Italian Ambassador to Cairo Mario Sica. The celebration took place at the Italian Embassy, on the 57th anniversary of Italy's National Day, with Bedeir being feted for his unique artistic abilities, as well as his cooperation -- as a representative of the Cairo Opera House -- with the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo.
Speaking of diplomats, German Ambassador Baron Paul Von Maltzahn, who will soon be leaving Cairo at the end of his term, was the guest of honour at a dinner reception recently held by Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El- Beltagui at the Nile Hilton's rooftop restaurant, the Rotisserie Belvedere. Chris Ehmann, the hotel's director of operations, greeted the minister and the ambassador upon their arrival.
India: Mysteries and Keys, an Arabic book written by the distinguished Egyptian diplomat and writer Ihab El- Sherif, will be released tonight at the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture. The book, which contains a great many colour photographs of every day life in India, has been widely acclaimed in its pre-release publicity. El- Sherif -- who has perfected the art of writing via photography -- has produced a book filled with both an abundance of information, and exuding the elegance of diplomacy. El- Sherif travelled extensively in India during his term at the Egyptian Embassy in New Delhi in the 1990s.
Speaking of photography, the American University in Cairo's Sony Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition titled "War in Iraq". Featuring the work of 16 Associated Press (AP) photographers, the show was inaugurated by Earleen Fisher, AP's chief of Middle East Services. The 36 photographs on display were shot with digital cameras, and will remain on display at the Sony until 11 September.
