The Cairo Opera House is preparing to launch the 30th edition of the International Saladin Citadel Music Festival in mid-August.
He in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the concerts of the 18-day festival will be performed by artists including Hani Shaker, Nawal el-Zoghbi, and Medhat Saleh.
Held at the halls of Cairo’s historic Saladin Citadel, the annual summer festival attracts a large audience with its remarkably cheap ticket (20 Egyptian pound or around $1), which the culture ministry describes as “affordable for all the Egyptian families and citizens.”
Culture minister, Dr. Ines Abdel Dayem described the Saladin Citadel Festival as “an entrenched demonstration and one of the most prominent events that the ministry of culture organizes.”
“Since its successful debut in 1990, the festival managed to gain huge popularity thanks to its rich artistic agenda,” she added.
Nine figures who have contributed to enriching the art scene in Egypt and the Arab world will be honored during the festival. They include late maestro Kamal Hilal; violinist Mahmoud Othman; opera singer Mustafa Mohamed; lyric poet Ibrahim Abdel Fattah; maestro Mohamed Abdel Sattar; director and designer Karima Badir; director general of the Technical Office for Music, Opera and Ballet at the Cairo Opera House Howaida Eid; director general of the General Administration of Reception Ragab Abdel Wahab; and Mamdouh Mukhtar from the Artistic Equipment Department at the Cairo Opera House.
The lineup of the 30th edition includes al-Anamel al-Sagheera Orchestra, led by Dr. Raji al-Mokadem; singer Medhat Saleh, accompanied by musician Amr Selim and his band; Massar Egbari band; singer Dina al-Wedidi; singer Hisham Abbas; Amman Citadel ensemble (Jordan), as well as Cairo Opera Ballet Company; al-Hadra troupe for Sufi chanting; singer Ali al-Haggar; Wust El-Balad band; singer Marwa Nagy; and marimba star Nesma Abdel Aziz.
Concerts will also be held by Lebanese singer Nawal al-Zoghbi, Hani Shaker, Hanan Mady, Nesma Mahgoub, the Speed of Hearts, led by Sharif Alyan, Syrian singer Lina Shamamian, Lebanese singer Tania Saleh, Nouran Abu Taleb, Mohammed Mohsen, Musician Omar Khairat, alongside other bands and singers from Arab and foreign countries including India and Venezuela.
The 29th edition of the festival ran for 16 days, and was attended by 55,000 spectators, mostly young men and women.
