Saturday 11/October/2025 – 11:09 AM
Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, witnessed the major celebration held by the Egyptian Opera House, headed by Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, on the occasion of its thirty-seventh anniversary, in the presence of Mr. Fumio Iwai, the Japanese Ambassador to Cairo, and a large audience of lovers of fine arts.
Minister of Culture: Opera is Egypt’s cultural face to the world
In his speech, the Minister of Culture announced that the upcoming June 30 Revolution celebration will be held from the Oasis of Culture in 6th of October City, affiliated with the Cairo Opera House, the new beacon that opens a new chapter in the journey of Egyptian creativity.
Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno emphasized that the Egyptian Opera House was and still is a symbol of soft power and a permanent ambassador of Egypt’s civilized face to the world, pointing out that the opera is an edifice that restored Egypt’s high artistic status and gave its audience a window from which to view the finest human creativity of music, singing, ballet and opera.
He explained that the Egyptian Opera House, since its opening, has become a cultural icon, a home for fine art, and a renewed message confirming that Egypt will always remain an incubator of beauty and a center of civilization. He pointed out that Egypt’s artistic history bears witness to the fact that it was a pioneer when Khedive Ismail inaugurated the “Khedive Opera” as the first opera house on the African continent and the Arab world. Since then, it has become a mirror through which Egypt looks at the world and a cultural message that expresses its openness to the high arts.
He added that the Khedive Opera, despite its departure in the 1960s, remained alive in memory until it was reincarnated in the modern Egyptian Opera House, which restored its artistic pulse and international voice to Cairo.
The Minister extended his greetings and appreciation to the artist Farouk Hosni, former Minister of Culture, who came up with the idea of establishing the new opera, and to the friendly country of Japan, which contributed to establishing this great cultural achievement. He also appreciated the efforts of everyone who participated in the construction, including engineers, artists, and workers, and to everyone who assumed the presidency of the Opera House and contributed to enriching its message and elevating its status.
