Friday 17/October/2025 – 01:33 AM
Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, opened the activities of the 33rd session of the Arab Music Festival and Conference, which is organized by the Cairo Opera House, headed by Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, and directed by Maestro Tamer Ghoneim. Its activities celebrate the planet of the East, “Umm Kulthum,” as part of the Ministry of Culture’s celebrations of the “Year of Umm Kulthum,” and will continue until October 25th.
The opening ceremony was held at the Nafoura Theater in the Cairo Opera House, in the presence of the Deputy Director of the Festival, Maestro Dr. Mohamed Al-Mogy, and an elite group of prominent public figures, ambassadors, and heads of sectors of the Ministry of Culture.
Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, said: Every year, with the radiance of a new session of the Arab Music Festival and Conference, we not only light up the stage, but we also renew a covenant with the memory of an entire nation. A memory that does not memorize a fleeting melody, but rather dwells in the melody of the oud, the strings of the violin, and the authenticity of the sound that shaped our conscience. This festival was and still is a house of musical wisdom, which brilliantly combines the greatness of the past with the pulse of the present, and draws the features of the future in the language of high art.
The Minister of Culture stressed that the best example of this eternal greatness is the celebration this year of an artistic symbol that cannot be missed, the Star of the East, Mrs. Umm Kulthum, who confirms with her constant presence that greatness in art is not a title that is given, but rather an impact that resides in the conscience and cannot be erased by time.
He added that celebrating Umm Kulthum is a renewed invitation to every young artist to draw from her legacy and be inspired by her presence, which continues to be a sun that illuminates the paths of creativity.
He pointed out that the coincidence of the festival with the celebrations of the great victory gives it a special national dimension, as after the historical joy that spread throughout the Arab world, this artistic wedding comes to extend bridges of joy for ten consecutive days, in which the spirit of pride is renewed, and in which the banners of art are raised tall alongside the flags of the homeland in the sky of glory.
He added: From the heart of the Egyptian Opera House, the incubator of this great event, our message goes out to the world. This house opens its arms to embrace an elite group of diamond voices that carry the Arab spirit in its finest form, to resonate beyond the borders of Cairo, confirming that Arab art is alive, rooted, and able to keep pace with the times and dialogue with the future with confidence and awareness.
The Minister of Culture also honored 10 creative personalities who contributed to enriching artistic life in Egypt and the Arab world. They are: Dr. Hisham Sharaf (Jordan), the name of the artist Naima Samih (Morocco), the name of the poet Al-Hadi Adam (Sudan), the kola player Ibrahim Fathi (Egypt), Dr. Sherine Abdel Latif (Egypt), the name of the musician Jalal Fouda (Egypt), the maestro Hassan Fikry (Egypt), the poet Wael Hilal (Egypt), and the composer. Khaled Ezz (Egypt).
The Minister of Culture also rose to the stage to honor the authentic Egyptian voice, Amal Maher, during her artistic segment at the opening ceremony, as she is one of the ambassadors of Egyptian art.
Artist Amal Maher expressed her great happiness with the honor, saying: “How proud and grateful I feel to my beloved country, Egypt, with this special honor, especially when it comes during this ancient festival that witnessed my upbringing and artistic launch, and I thank the Minister of Culture for this honor.”
Amal Maher concluded her speech: Egypt is not only a country of ancient civilization and arts, but it is the country that leads the process of peace, security and safety in the world under the wise leadership of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.
During his speech, Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, President of the Cairo Opera House, thanked and appreciated the Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, who supported the process of creativity throughout Egypt through prominent artistic and cultural events that highlighted the value of our established civilization, including the Arab Music Festival and Conference in its thirty-third session.
Abdel Salam said: We meet today to begin together the journey of the thirty-third session of the Arab Music Festival and Conference, this creative event that has become a milestone in the conscience of the nation.
More than three decades have passed and the festival is moving steadily on the path of authenticity, and today we present a new testimony of love for the singing that unites the nation and defines an aspect of identity.
The ceremony was directed by Mahdi Al-Sayed, decoration and graphic design by Abdel Moneim Al-Masry, assistant director Ali Yousry, director of Sherif Ramadan.
