The inauguration of the Egyptian Opera House
Egypt, History, 11/1/2000

The Egyptian Opera House was inaugurated on November 1st,1869, as a part of the celebrations marking the opening of the Suez Canal on November 17 of the same year. It was established over a period of 6 months with a total cost of L.E.160,000. Its total area was 2500 square meters.

It had one of the biggest garment stores in the Middle East.

The opera "Rigoletto" by Verdi, was performed during the Opera House inauguration ceremony.

It was the first Opera House to be eastablished in the Middle East and in Africa.

It staged the most famous world operas, such as "Aida", "Mme Butterfly" and "Samson and Delilah". Some of these operas were performed in Rome and in Cairo the same year.

Most key Opera composers and maestros of the world came to conduct their fine art works at the Cairo Opera House, such as the Italian composer Peitro Mascagni, and the Yugoslav Boris Panandoplou.

On October 28,1971, a great fire completely brought down the Opera House including the clothes and equipment used in the artistic works performed therein. The losses were estimated at L.E 1.5 million.

In 1988, a new Opera House was inaugurated. It covers an area of 4500 square meters. The seven- storey building comprises three theatres, a huge artistic library, two museums displaying some possessions of the old and new Opera Houses, lecture and debate halls. It is provided with state-of-the-art equipment.

Previous Stories:
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  Anniversary of el-Gharbiya governorate national day   (10/7/2000)

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