Musical Performances in Cairo: Proposals for the Afternoon and Evening of your Trip

Musical performances in Cairo are an interesting option to enjoy a moment of leisure in the afternoons or evenings of your tour of Egypt. In a city as large as the Egyptian capital, it is logical that the options are numerous. In this post we have decided to choose four very different ones, which address tradition and modernity from different genres.

Al Tannoura: a Show of Whirling Dervishes

The whirling dervishes are a musical and mystical spectacle originating in Turkey (Konya), in the times of the Seljuks. But its subsequent assimilation by the Ottomans and the consequent expansion of their empire brought it to Egyptian lands. Currently, there are not many locals or cultural centers where you can witness one of these shows, but we highlight the Al-Tannoura Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe, a company that usually performs twice a week at the Wekalet Al Ghouri cultural center, very close to the al-Azhar mosque. In these shows, the dancers display their whirling dance, amplified by the robes that reach a circular flight, which symbolizes their ascension to heaven for their encounter with God.

Makan Cultural Center: a Reference for Folklore

If you are interested in discovering Egyptian folk music, your favorite option will be the Makan Cultural Center, very close to Garden City and Roda Island. Here, performances are organized by groups that display rhythms and dances that have their roots in this land, centuries ago. For example, the music of Nubian style. But without a doubt, its most impressive performance is that of Zar: a ritual of healing and purification performed by women, to the sound of chants and percussion rhythms, which is another example of how music and religion are closely linked, since the objective of this performance is to ward off evil spirits or djinns. In addition, there are monologues on the billboard, a proposal designed for the Cairo residents themselves, as they are performed in the Egyptian language.

Sawy Culture Wheel: Pop-Rock and Puppets

The third proposal for musical performances in Cairo takes us to the neighborhood of Zamalek, where the Sawy Culture Wheel is located. This venue hosts small bands that usually perform concerts of modern and Western music, such as rock, pop and blues, which may be interesting to discover the most current musical scene in the city. Its program also includes small traditional music groups and soloists who perform ballads and other genres. But in addition, other very unique performances take place on its stage: those of the El Sakia puppet theater, which perform songs by fashionable musicians, such as Umm Kulthum. All of this makes up a very rich program, with performances almost every day.

Cairo Opera House: Chamber Music with Elegance

The fourth and final proposal is the most elegant: the Cairo Opera House, also located in Zamalek. This is a stage space inaugurated in 1980, but its presence is not accidental: the city of Cairo was fully integrated into the operatic circuits of the 19th century, to the point that the Italian opera Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi, was officially premiered at the Khedive Theater in 1871. In fact, this Opera House came to replace that theater, which was burned down in 1971. Currently, there are concerts of classical and chamber music, but also other traditional and Arab genres, both local and foreign. To attend a concert in the main hall, it is mandatory to dress in gala attire, with a jacket and tie. In addition to the secondary stages, the Cairo Opera House also manages other lyrical theaters in the city, such as the Gomhouria Theatre.