It was a mellow autumn evening 150 years ago, and the first ever opera house in Africa was opening in the heart of Cairo. The Khedivial Opera House made its debut in style, just as its godfather had intended. On 1 November 1869, Khedive Ismail Pasha (1830 – 1895) welcomed world royalty and elites … Continue reading The splendid opera house Ismail built: 150 years on