Egypt-Russia Year's Cultural Activities Concluded at Bolshoi Theater

The cultural activities of the "Year of Humanitarian Cooperation between Egypt and Russia" have recently concluded at the Bolshoi Theater, in Moscow.

This initiative was launched three years ago by Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Vladimir Putin, and it marked the first visit of an Egyptian Minister of Culture to Russia in 40 years.

The recent cultural event that took place in the Russian Capital city featured appearances by various officials, such as the Minister of Culture, Dr. Nevine El-Kilani; the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa and Mikhail Zhdanov, President Putin's personal envoy and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other attendees included the Deputy Minister of Culture in Russia, Vladimir Osintsev; Deputy Minister of Sports, Alexei Morozov, and the Egyptian Ambassador to Moscow, Dr. Nazih El-Najari.

The event started with an exhibition of traditional Egyptian crafts, which the audience found captivating. It was followed by a stunning performance from the Bolshoi troupe, who presented scenes from famous ballets like Swan Lake, Arabian Nights, and Sleeping Beauty.

The Egyptian Cairo Opera Ballet Company then showcased their marvelous show "Osiris," which was the first complete Egyptian ballet to be presented at the Bolshoi Theater. Their outstanding performance received high praise from the audience, who packed the theater to capacity.

The Year of Humanitarian Cooperation, which began in 2020 and was extended to 2022 due to the Corona epidemic crisis, concluded in 2023, with almost 100 events organized in both countries across various fields. This unprecedented level of bilateral collaboration was especially significant as this year marks the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Russia.

Contributed by Ahmed Emam