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a poetical night with
“ahmed taymour”
a isit to the
Writes: Amgad Hashim and Ahmed Abdel Hamid
Ahmed Taymour’s poetry symposium was one
of the recent cultural and intellectual activities of
the Egyptian Opera house. The symposium was
held in the small hall where many well-known
figures have attended.
The ex-prime minister
Essam Sharaf was one
of the major guests who
were personally invited
by Taymour. A group of
celebrities have attended
as well, Ashraf Abdel
Ghafour, the ex-head of
the actors’ syndicate was
there and many other
names such as Sameh
Al-Seraity, Mahmoud Al-
Hadini, Ahmed Maher,
Khalil Morsy, Wagdy Al-
Araby and Mirna Walid.
The media men, Hamdi Al-Kanasy and Abdel-
Wahab Kataya, have started the evening with a short
opening speech welcoming all the guests. Later on
Taymour thanked everyone for coming, and gave
special thanks for his friend “Essam Sharaf”.
As an introductory poem “Groans of the Sun/Ahat Al-
Shams” was Taymour’s preference, after that came
a 2nd piece named “May” indicating his birthday and
the May month arrival.
This first session was wrapped up by the “Egypt’s
rebirth” piece which was published after the January
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25th revolution. He said that this poem still has an
ongoing reason despite it is two years old now.
The poem has lamented the current Egyptian
situation; it has touched all the audiences with its
strong words, specially
the final line where
Taymour wondered “If
Egypt has died?”
Taymour’s poems were
read by many of the
guests. The artist, Mirna
Walid, was the first to
read some of his poems,
followed by artist,
Mohamed Riad who has
chosen the “For love and
freedom” poem.
This evening ended by a nice singing session lead
by Shady Abdel-Salam, with “Ya Masrena” song and
solo piano orchestra by Rami Mostafa, Maged Al-
Qasem, Adnan Al-Sasa and Ahmed Ibrahim.
Ahmed Taymour was born in the city of Cairo on May
1st. He) graduated from medical school and went
through many positions and careers in that field.
Still, Taymour has always loved poetry and excelled
at it.
He has written many poems in various fields; politics,
culture, love… etc. He has also participated in
several symposiums. Taymour has well succeeded
in combining between his profession and his hobby.
V A rabian House
O of ud
Writes: Nabila Magdy
Have you ever thought that your house might become a
historical one that people visit daily and take photos of it?
You might be unable to imagine this and so was not
Ahmed Ibn Yousef El-Serafy who built “El-Harawy
House” in the middle of the 18th century at the time of
the Ottoman Empire.
The house that welcomes the Arabian Oud fans was
named after Abdel- Rahman EL Harawy whose house’s
ownership moved to from his ancestors whose eldest
was EL-Serafy.
“The Arabian House of Oud”, is the first specialized
school for studying Oud in the Middle East, under the
supervision of the great Iraqi artist Nosseir Shamma”.
It was founded in 1998 in Cairo Opera house and then
moved to EL Harawy Historical house in El-Hussien
district in December 2002.
And since then the House became the destination of
many of the oriental music fans that go to enjoy their
beloved music in that charming place in the Ghoury area.
Students of “Oud House”
school spend two years of studying Oud and then they
perform in a concert certain music pieces as a graduation
project.
The house offers studying opportunities to everyone from
any county from the age 7 for 250 pounds per month for
Egyptians and 45 dollars for Arab and foreign students.
In addition to Oud Studying, the house also offers lessons
for those interested in Eastern Musical instruments like:
Qanon, Nay and Percussion instruments.
As you enter the House you will be taken by the beauty
of the place, and will find yourself standing in the middle
of a big hall that looks like a school’s playground and
looking around you will see beautifully decorated wooden
Arabesque windows.
And in front of you there will be the stage
getting ready to welcome the guests
of the house by a great Oud concert,
performed by the students of Nossier
Shamma.
All you have to do then, is sit down and
get ready to enjoy one of your best evenings
listening to that great oriental music in that
touristic House “ Beit El-Harawy “
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