Top 5 Weekend Picks

The galleries aren't as crowded during the summer season, but the nice thing about this time of year are the sprawling, weeks-long exhibits they put on that include an array of artists. The Zamalek Art Gallery caught our eye with their MASTERPIECES XIV summer collective exhibit, which includes a whopping 28 painters and sculptures, including Al Sagini and Mardam Bey. If you're not well-versed in art or the local scene, this is a great place to start and view a variety of artists in one stop. Ongoing until September 30, daily from 10:30am to 9pm except Fridays Zamalek Art Gallery, 11 Brazil St. View the gallery's Facebook page here   [caption id="attachment_295479" align="aligncenter" width="682"] By Mounir Canaan[/caption] There's another extensive exhibit at Safarkhan gallery that brings both art pioneers and contemporary works together into one long summer show. There's a huge span of styles to explore, from the socio-realist painting of Mahmoud Afifi depicting a peasant and a worker, to Mounir Canaan's easy, flowing pencil on paper drawings of Egyptian scenes. Karim Abdel Malak is a promising new artist whose layered multi-media works are influenced by the old masters. Ongoing until September 30 Safarkhan Gallery, 6 Brazil St. View the gallery's Facebook group here or preview the exhibit on their website here   [caption id="attachment_295634" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Maestro Ahmed El Saedi on tour (photo by Mounir Jabre)[/caption] The Cairo Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its season with a bang in a performance set to include a dramatic Beethoven piano concerto (No. 1) and the Scheherazade symphonic suite by Rimsky-Korsakov. The orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Ahmed El Saedi, who recently told us he's planning on bringing what's often regarded as a stuffy art form to a wider and younger audience this season. Saturday, September 5, 8pm Main Hall, Cairo Opera House Tickets EGP 25-50 Visit the opera house's Facebook page here or listen to the Beethoven piano concerto on YouTube here   [caption id="attachment_296313" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Ghada Shbeir (photo from Facebook)[/caption] Lebanese singer Ghada Shbeir will close off the month-long Bibliotheca Alexandrina Summer Festival with a performance of her Middle Eastern folk songs, which often include traditional regional instruments like the oud. Shbeir is one of the leading performers of beautiful Arabo-Andalusian music and Maronite Chants, and is also a professor at the Beirut Conservatory with two published books on music. Friday, September 4 at 8:30pm Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria Tickets start at EGP 75 Visit Shbeir's Facebook page here or listen to her performing Maronite chants on YouTube here   [caption id="attachment_296352" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Los Compadres (photo from Facebook)[/caption] Jazzy crooner Ashraf Habashy and his Buena Vista Social Club-inspired band, Los Compadres, will take the stage at the Cairo Jazz Club this weekend for some smooth and cool Cuban music that's perfect for a chill, unwinding night. Sunday, Sept. 6 at 10:30pm Cairo Jazz Club, 197 26th of July St. See the event's Facebook page here or listen to Los Compadres on YouTube here