Culture Min. Opens 28th Edition of Citadel Music Festival

Minister of Culture Dr. Enas Abdel Dayem opened the 28th edition of the Salah El Din International Festival for Music on Sunday.

Minister of Tourism Rania El-Mashat, Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Anani and Head of the Egyptian Opera House Dr. Magdy Saber also took part in the festival's opening ceremony.

The celebration kicked off at 7 pm with musical and dynamic performances by the Military Music Band. The opening ceremony began at 8 pm.

Abdel Dayem and Saber honored 10 personalities, who enriched the artistic field in Egypt and the Arab world.

The personalities included the singers- Ali El Haggar, Mohamed El Helou, Nadia Mostafa, violinist Yasser El Serafy, the artist Jihan Morsi-director of the Arab Music Festival- ballerina Sahar Helmy, Dr. Magdy Baghdadi- head of the art house- Abdo Abou El Magd- one of the founders of the festival- Mahmoud Afifi, supervisor of the Institute of Arabic Music.

Furthermore, Brass Sound Band has presented a number of the most famous Western compositions, followed by presenting a show for Cairo Steps Band- an Egyptian German Band with the participation of its founder musician Bassem Darwish and the leadership of the maestro and pianist Sebastian Muller.

They have presented a collection of mixed eastern and western classical music and jazz.

Egyptian singer Mai Farouk has animated the opening ceremony by presenting a bouquet of the old times singing.

It is noteworthy that the festival will last for 15 days until Sunday, September 1.

The festival will host a galaxy of stars including Mai Farouk, Mohammed Helou, Mohammed Mohsen, Marwa Naji, Ali Hajjar, Hani Shaker, Ahmed Gamal, Hisham Abbas, Mohamed Adawiya, Majd El Kassem, Medhat Saleh accompanied by famous pianist Amr Selim and his band, Ghalia Ben Ali (Tunisia), Tania Kassis, Dina El Wedidi, Musician Omar Khairat, Brass Sound Band, Musician Hisham Khorma, Massar Egbary Ensemble, Yasser Suleiman, Cairo opera band, Cairo Band, Sheikh Yassin El Tohamy, Sound Track Orchestra, Al-Nour Wa Al-Amal Orchestra, Marimba Nesma Abdel Aziz, Mohamed Hassan band, Tonaki Band (Namibia), Cairo Steps- Egypt and Germany, Guinea Rhythms Ensemble (Guinea), Reda Folklore Troupe, Wave Jazz Band, Soudasy Sharara Ensemble, Rhythmist Said Artist, Baghdadi Big Band, Singer Zizi Adel band, Mona Burkhard band, Sohag Folklore Troupe- affiliated to Culture Palaces organization, as well as bands from India, China, Venezuela and Algeria.