Prague Chamber Orchestra to give 2 concerts in Egypt

On Thursday, 1 November, the Prague Chamber Orchestra will perform at the Cairo Opera House and on Friday, 2 November, at the Alexandria Opera House. The Prague Chamber Orchestra, one of the most renowned of Czech orchestras, was established in 1951. This will be the orchestra’s first performance in Egypt, but not the first in the Arab world. They previously played in Lebanon’s Bustan Festival and at the Oman Royal Opera House. Cairo's concert will include: Mozart's Overture to Don Giovanni K 527, Beethoven's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 3 in C-minor Op 37, Dvorak's Czech Suite Op 39 and Prokofiev's Symphony No 1 Op. 25 in D major (Classical). The soloist of the evening will be Laura Mikkola on piano. The concert will be conducted by Ahmed El-Saedi, one of Egypt’s most celebrated orchestral conductors. El-Saedi was principal conductor and artistic director of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra between 1993 and 2003.  Commenting on his concert with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, El-Saedi told Ahram Online: “It is very important that the Egyptian public have a chance to listen to first class international ensembles,” adding that it is challenging for a conductor to work with an orchestra that due to its chamber character generally performs without a conductor.  El-Saedi has cooperated with Czech orchestras already. He previously conducted the Prague Radio Orchestra and the Prague Symphony Orchestra, among others. “Czech Orchestras are normally very disciplined and have the traditions of European orchestras," he concluded. Programme: Thursday, 1 November, at 8pm Cairo Opera House, Main Hall Friday, 2 November, at 8pm Alexandria Opera House, Sayed Darwish Theatre 22 El-Horreya Road (formerly known as Fouad Street) El-Raml Station, Alexandria From: Ahram Online