In the memory of the legend’s birth

CAIRO – 13 March 2018: Celebrating the memory of legend Mohamed Abdel Wahab’s birthday, Cairo Opera House will host Nowera ensemble for Arab Music led by Maestro Ahmed Amer, who will perform his most significant works in the Main Hall on Thursday March 15. The program includes a collection of immortal works created by Abdel Wahab, including “Egypt, O Mother of the World”, “And We Knew Love”, and “The Beloved Lady”.

Ahmed Rajab, Ahmed Mohsen, Ayat Farouk, Sabrin El Ngily and Ahmed Assem will be performing these pieces among others, according to Cairo Opera House’s official statement. Abdel Wahab is one of the most remarkable musicians in the Arab music world whose known for his outstanding vocals and composing skills. Composing numerous poems for different Arab poets, Abdel Wahab is most known for composing many of prominent poet Ahmed Shawky’s poems. Many of Umm Kalthoum’s popular songs were composed by Abdel Wahab as well, such as “Shall We Meet Tomorrow?” and “You Are My Life” among ten other songs.

He has also composed most of Nagat El Saghira’s significant hits, including four poems by the prominent poet Nizar Qabbani. Despite composing many remarkable music pieces that go under the classic umbrella, Abdel Wahab always had his own western music grasp. Through playing the oud distinctively, he is considered to be a pioneer who introduced Arab poems and pieces to Western rhythms. A model that successfully portrays Abdel Wahab’s magnificent fusion between Arabic words and western rhythms would be Abdel Halim Hafez's song "Ya Albi Ya Khali" (Oh My Empty Heart) in which he added a Rock and Roll rhythm.

Abdel Wahab has also collaborated with many remarkable singers such as Talal Maddah, Asmahan and Laila Mourad among others. Although it has been 120 years since his birth, his patriotic songs are still widely played in Egypt and in the whole Arab world, especially on national occasions.