Get to Know Reason for Establishing Opera House since 150 Years Ago

Culture Ministry celebrated the 150 th anniversary of the 1st establishment of Egyptian opera house, known as the Khepe Opera.

This important landmark was completely burned in 1971, and was rebuilt in the Gezira area of Zamalek instead of its old headquarters El atapa, which celebrated its 31st anniversary last October.

Khepe Opera is the 1st official artistic monument to be established in the Arab world; it was not built with technical and creative goals to serve the Egyptians, but on the sidelines of the celebration of the opening of the Suez Canal.

On other hand, Khepe Ismail was passionate about international opera arts.

Since he wanted to accompany the arriving guests during the opening of the first Egyptian opera, he gave his instructions to the Italian engineers "Avoscani" and "Russian" in 1869 since 150 Years Ago, to develop a design that takes into the technical accuracy and architectural creativity that match the Europe architecture.

He was interested in opening the show with opera Aida, which tells a story inspired by Egyptian history, but he did not appear at the opening ceremony because of the Franco-German war. It was opened again for the first time in 1871.

On October 28, 1971, the Opera got burnt down in a tragic scene that caused panic and fear to the Egyptians on the future of culture and arts.

After the development of the Egyptian arts during the 70th and establishment of the Egyptian Ballet Institute, and the development of film work, the country witnessed the emergence of great singers like Umm Kulthum, Abd El Wahab and Abd El Halim Hafez.

Culture ministry received a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Organization (JICA) to establish the new Egyptian Opera. It was designed in an Islamic architectural style.

The foundation stone was laid in 1985 and was officially opened on October 10, 1988 to become the latest cultural landmarks of Cairo.

It did not act as a window for the global display of ballet and opera arts and high-end music, but also an enlightenment cultural center with a strategy aiming to serve the national goals of the Egyptian state locally, regionally and internationally.

The Khepe Opera ruins remain in the new Opera museum , which is located on the 2nd floor of the Grand Theater until today.

In addition, it houses a collection of precious and rare musical instruments considered as a relic of modern Egyptian history civilization.

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