Cairo Opera House to launch 'Valentine’s Day Festival'

CAIRO – 13 February 2018: The Cairo Opera House adopted a new tradition for the first time this year as it will launch “Valentine’s Day Festival” to celebrate this occasion which spreads and encourages emotions and noble feelings.

The festival will include three consecutive mega concerts. The first will be performed by renowned Egyptian singer Medhat Saleh on Tuesday, February 13, the second will be on Wednesday, February 14, by heartthrob singer Hany Shaker and the last will be on Thursday, February 15, by veteran singer Ali el Haggar.


Hany Shaker - Egypt Today

Hany Shaker

Shaker was born in Cairo in 1952. He started his musical career at a very young age in Abdel Halim Hafez choral in the song “Sora” (Photo). Later, Shaker performed the role of young Sayed Darwish in the movie “Sayed Darwish”.

He studied music in the Cairo Conservatoire. In 1972, while he was a student in the second year, he released his first breakthrough hit “Heloua Ya Donia” (It’s a wonderful life). Shaker had much support from the musical legends at that time, such as Umm Kulthum, Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Abdel Halim Hafez, as they believed in his talent.

Shaker's musical repertoire includes more than 461 songs such as “Ghalta” (A mistake), “El Helm El Gameel” (The beautiful dream), “ Tekhsary” ( You will lose), among others. Shaker is the current head of the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate.


Ali el Haggar - Egypt Today

Ali el Haggar

Haggar graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1979 and was influenced by the late Egyptian music legend Baligh Hamdy, who trained Haggar along with Mohamed Mounir and Mohamed el-Helw in a band called el-Takht that was formed in the Arabic Music Institution.

Inspired by poet, cartoonist, and painter Salah Jaheen, Haggar always wanted to sing Jahin's sonnets; he grew popular after performing them in the 1980s. Around the same time, he also began blending authentic Arabic music with modern technology and sound effects.

In addition to his prolific album releases, Haggar has also performed in several theatrical plays, movies, and TV series.

Haggar is expected to perform the songs of his recent album “Ma Takhdy Balek” (Please Take Care). He will also sing some of his classic hits such as “Hona al-Qahera” (Here is Cairo), “A’m Batata” (Uncle Batata), and “Dehket al-Masagen” (Prisoners’ laughter).

Moreover, he will sing a collection of his iconic soundtracks such as “Bawabet al-Halawany” (Halawany’s Gate), “Al-Mal wal Banon” (Money and Sons), and “Masa’let Mabdaa” (A Matter of Principle).


Medhat Saleh - Egypt Today

Medhat Saleh

Saleh was born in Cairo in 1960 in Shobra district. He started his musical career directly after he was graduated from Cairo University. He released his first song, entitled “Akeed” (Sure) in the 1980s. He performed his song named “Ya Greed el Nakhl el Aly” (O high palm leaves) in front of ex Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak in mid 1980s, where the song achieved a booming success, placing Saleh among the top singers at that time.

Throughout his career that extended for more than 30 years, Saleh was famous for performing the songs of the most successful movies such as "Habiby Ya Ashek" in “Short w Fanla w Cap” (Shorts, a T shirt and a Hat) movie, "El Nour Makano Fel Keloob" ( Light is in the hearts) from “Amir el Zalam” ( The Prince of Darkeness) movie, “La Hatakhod Eih” ( What Will You Take?) from the movie "Mafia", among others.