Hisham Abbas, Cairo Café, and Kazakh Folklore on the Stage of El-Mahka at the Citadel Festival

As part of the 33rd edition of the Citadel International Festival for Music and Singing, organized by the Ministry of Culture through the Egyptian Opera House chaired by Dr. Alaa Abdel Salam, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities represented by the Tourism Promotion Authority, three concerts will be held on Monday, August 18, at El-Mahka stage.

At 8:00 PM, Cairo Café, led by pianist and music arranger Aly Sharaf, will perform alongside vocalists Lydia Luciano and Omnia Abou Bakr, presenting a selection of reimagined Arabic and Western classics such as Qalbi We Meftaho, Ya Gameel Ya Gameel, Teer Bina Ya Qalbi, Dari El-Oyoun, and Ahwak, in addition to Sharaf’s original works including Takhaial and Longaya.

At 9:00 PM, in collaboration with the Foreign Cultural Relations Sector, the Zhetisu Philharmonic Ensemble from Kazakhstan will showcase a vibrant repertoire of traditional folk music and dance, offering audiences a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural heritage and local customs.

The evening will conclude at 10:00 PM with a performance by Egyptian pop star Hisham Abbas, who will delight fans with a medley of his most popular hits and TV drama theme songs, including Ma Tebatalish, Lamtna, Habitha, Halal Aleik, Shoufi, Ana Aamel Eh, Einy, Einyha El-Soud, Ta‘aly, Zaman, and Yetrabba Fi Ezzou, alongside his upbeat hits Keda Reda, El-Sahar Wel Enbesat, and Aamal Yehkeely Anha.