In October last year the Norwegian Minister for Culture and Church Affairs, Mr. Trond Giske, and Egyptian Minister of Culture, Mr. Farouk Hosni, met in Luxor to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of culture between the two countries. The aim of Norwegian foreign cultural activity is to create mutual insight and respect across geographical, political and cultural borders. This is important as a foundation for all international cooperation and for promoting understanding and trust in the international community. Following up on the Luxor initiative the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo is proud to present a number of concerts where Norwegian musicians will be performing together with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and other Egyptian Musicians from 30 October to 7 November.
The most spectacular concert is with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra with Lars-Erik ter Jung as conductor and Trygve Seim, Frode Haltli, and Tora Augestad performing together with Egyptian musicians Fathy Salama and Alfred Gameel. This unique concert will be a fusion of modern Norwegian classical music and Arabic music. The concert will first be performed at El Gomhouria Theatre in Cairo 30 October and then in Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria 31 October. Both concerts will start at 8.00 p.m.
Following the two nights of Eastern-Western fusion there will be a number of concerts in the jazz genre. Alfred Gameel's Qithara will be performing together with Frode Haltli, Tora Augestad and Knut Erik Sundquist at Al Genayna Theatre in Al Azhar Park in Cairo Saturday 1 November at 8.30 p.m. Then, the Norwegian trio Trygve Seim, Frode Haltli, and Tora Augestad will have a concert at Al Sawi Culture Wheel in Zamalek, Cairo Sunday 2 November at 9.00 p.m.
World-famed Norwegian experimental jazz musician Nils Petter Molvær and then Trygve Seim and Frode Haltli together with Sharikat Fathy Salama will have concerts at Manial Palace in Cairo Wednesday 5 November at 9 p.m. Renowned world music and jazz musician Jon Balke with his virtuosic Arab-European quintet will perform improvised music based on the structures of Andalusian music and early baroque at Amir Taz Palace, Cairo, Thursday 6 November at 7 p.m. Nils Petter Molvær, Trygve Seim and Frode Haltli follow with a concert at the Open Air Genayna Theatre in Al Azhar Park, Cairo, the same day at 8.00 p.m.
Concluding the Egyptian-Norwegian concerts, the Siwan group consisting of Amina Alaoui, Jon Balke, Bjarte Eike and an ensemble of 17 musicians will be holding a concert at the Arab Music Institute, Cairo, Friday 7 November at 8.00 p.m. Siwan's music draw upon the ideas and sounds of the music of Al-Andalus which is a fascinating blend of Arabic and European music and poetry.
Tickets are available at the respective concert arenas.
Programme for Concerts 30 and 31 October at Al Gomhouria Theatre, Cairo / Sayed Darwish Theatre, Alexandria
- "Son de Scirocco" for saxophone and orchestra. Composed by Håvard Lund
- "When I see your Face" for mezzo soprano, accordion, violin, percussion and orchestra. Composed by Trygve Seim. Lyrics by Jellaludin Rumi
- "On the day I die" for mezzo soprano, saxophone and orchestra. Composed by Trygve Seim. Lyrics by Jallaludin Rumi
- "Spur" for accordion and orchestra. Composed by Arne Nordheim
- "Scores for Winterlight" for orchestra and contrabass. Composed by Fathy Salama
- 3 pieces for sufi vocal, piano, percussion and orchestra. Composed by Fathy Salama
Conductor: Christian Eggen
Vocalists: Tora Augestad (mezzo soprano) and Murdi Abdelmordy (sufi vocal)
Accordion: Frode Haltli
Piano: Fathy Salama
Violin: Alfred Gameel
Saxophone: Trygve Seim
Cairo Symphony Orchestra