April 26th – May 3rd 2011
The Cairo Contemporary Music Days 2011, coordinated by the European-Egyptian Contemporary Music Society e.V., will once more bring renowned international ensembles to Cairo. This continues the series of performances started in 2009 as part of the successful first Alexandrina Contemporary Music Biennale presented together with the Cairo Opera House. In 2011, we welcome our new festival partners, the American University in Cairo and the Manial Palace International Music Center. The Cairo Conservatoire is hosting workshops with student ensembles and guest artists.
In order to encourage new endeavours several new works by Egyptian and other regional composers will be commissioned and performed. All new works will be competitively awarded to encourage equal access and a high quality.
The “Arab Composer in Focus” for 2011 is the Jordanian composer Saed Haddad.
The Bcn216 Ensemble, Barcelona will perform the Chamber Opera Gramma by José María Sánches-Verdú, with the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart. In addition the ensemble will present a portrait of Spanish contemporary composers: Musica Española S.XXI. Alex Garrobé will perform contemporary Spanish guitar music. Workshops will be presented by ensemble members. The Ensemble is also performing a work from Saed Haddad. This presentation is generously supported by the Spanish Embassy, Cairo and the Institut Ramon Llull.
The Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart present a program of contemporary vocal music in Cairo and Alexandria, as well as the chamber opera Gramma with the Barcelona 216 Ensemble. Workshops given by Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart will explore Modern Vocal Techniques for composers and performers alike. There will be a composition competition with the proposed theme: Egyptian Coptic Singing.
The outstanding contemporary percussion ensemble Slagwerk Den Haag will be presenting two concerts at the festival generously supported by the Netherlands Music Centre. Their concerts are not only thrilling to hear but visually to be appreciated – a program very accessible to audiences.
