The French Institute in Cairo is organising its 13th Music Day in Egypt on 21 June at al-Azhar Park. Last year’s celebration was very popular and attracted more than 5000 spectators.
Music Day takes all sorts of shows to the outdoors and public places where the people become parts of the shows. The day has become so popular over the years that it spread beyond the French borders to more than 110 countries in the five continents.
This year’s focus is on Egyptian-French songs where five bands will perform simultaneously in several parts of al-Azhar Park. The event will open at 8 pm with Oscaresma Studio and al-Darb al-Ahmar School for Arts. The performances will involve brass and percussion instruments in a circus show, the Conservatorium’s distinguished students will perform led by Egyptian conductor Mahmoud Bayoumi and French musician Jerome Attinger.
At 10pm and on the main theatre, “Compulsory Direction” from Egypt and “Baden Baden” from France will perform.
Music day started in France as an idea in 1976 and in 1982, the first day was on when the American Musician, Joel Cohen decided to have a people’s focused music celebration entitled, “Les Saturnales” twice a year on June 21st and December 21st. At the time, Cohen was working at Radio France Station. Cohen believed that music needs to be taken out of the elite venues to the everyday life of people in public places. After Francois Mitterrand was elected president in May 1981 Jack Lang who was a supporter of a democratic theatre in France became Minister of Culture. Lang worked on adapting Cohen’s ideas for France, with the help of his advisor, composer Morris Floret. Music Day started in 1982.
Watani International
18 June 2016