The Cairo Opera House

The 7-story Cairo Opera house at the Gezira Exhibition Grounds was inaugurated on March 10, 1988. Designed by a team of Japanese and Egyptian architects, it is an architectural masterpiece of Islamic design.

Cairo’s National Cultural Center

Make sure that your tour in Egypt take you to the Cairo opera! It is a unique experience to hear Egyptian opera and a delight to experience the nation’s culture. Most guided tours will only take you to iconic Egyptian destinations in Cairo like the Sphinx or the Pyramids. They may ignore the most exhilarating highlight of the best tours in Egypt - the one where people sing their hearts out! What are some of the best locations when it comes to Cairo opera?

For starters, you have to consider the Cairo Opera House, or the Dār el-Obra el-Masreyya. The building is located on South Gezira Island on the Nile, very close to the downtown area of Cairo. This is part of the Cairo’s National Cultural Center and is the most popular performing arts theatre in the city. Some of Egypt’s greatest artists have performed here.

The History of the Cairo Opera

The funds for the opera house’s construction were originally donated by Japan after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Japan in 1983. Construction work began two years later and in 1988 the building was finally dedicated.

This venue seats 1,300 people on four different levels. It welcomes operas and ballet shows, and is offered as the entertainment on certain luxury tours. Five hundred more people can be seated in the “Small Hall” area of the floor, though it is usually used for chamber music. There is also an Opera Museum, which displays many historic documents that call to mind historical performances that actually took place in the theatre. Lastly, there is an amphitheater for outdoor entertainment (very popular in the summer).

Some of the most acclaimed companies that work with the Opera House include the Cairo Ballet Company, the Cairo Opera Choir, the Arabic Music Ensemble, the Cairo Opera Company and the Cairo Opera Children's Choir. Remember that when you attend Cairo opera, like most opera events, men are expected to wear a necktie and ladies must wear formal dresses.

Other Popular Venues for Opera Music in Cairo?

Watch for these names on selected tours: The Culture Wheel, an independent cultural venue, the Garden Theatre in Al-Azhar Park, the Egyptian Center for Culture & Art, which highlights traditional Egyptian opera and music, and the Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Whether you are planning on budget tours or private tours, make sure that your itinerary includes authentic Cairo opera - a celebration of Cairo culture and life.

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