The 33rd edition of the Citadel Festival for music and singing concluded last Saturday evening, featuring 9 consecutive days of refined art and music attended by nearly 20,000 spectators. The festival ended with a distinctive Sufi concert combining the voice of the reciter Mahmoud El-Tahamy and the performance of the world-renowned musician Fathy Salama. A notable aspect of the festival was its provision of affordable access to high-quality art for ordinary people, with ticket prices significantly lower than external concerts. The festival offered a diverse artistic program satisfying all tastes, including operatic singing alongside oriental music, classical and Arabic music, religious chanting, and youth singing, with traditional instruments like the rababa alongside violin, guitar, and oud. The festival has built a rich artistic legacy over 33 years within the walls of Salah El-Din Citadel.

Prominent artists such as Medhat Saleh, Khaled Selim, and Ihab Tawfik featured strongly, with spiritual performances by Sheikh Yassin El-Tahamy. International participation included the Philharmonic of the Jetysu region from Kazakhstan and the Kanaan Palestinian cultural troupe, confirming the festival’s identity as an international meeting place for refined art. Despite the festival’s success, the 33rd edition saw the notable absence of musician Omar Khairat and artist Hany Shaker, who traditionally draw large crowds. Audience feedback included requests to extend the festival duration from 9 to 14 days to accommodate more star performers and calls for improved organization, including better crowd management and adherence to scheduled performance times.