The Alexandria Opera House announced details of the 33rd edition of the Arab Music Festival and Conference, scheduled from October 16 to 25 on the opera stages in Cairo, Alexandria, and Damanhur. This edition is distinguished by choosing “Kawkab Al-Sharq” Umm Kulthum as the festival’s figure on the 50th anniversary of her passing, with the participation of 83 artists and 41 researchers from 15 Arab and foreign countries.

The new edition will feature 41 singing and musical concerts across six stages, with a selection of stars of classical Arabic music, including Amal Maher, Omar Khairat, Medhat Saleh, Wael Jassar, Hany Shaker, Mohamed El Helw, Riham Abdel Hakim, Ali El Haggar, Saber Al Robai, alongside a large group of promising voices.

The accompanying scientific conference addresses the topic “Arab Music in the Era of Digital Transformation: Prospects and Challenges,” through four main themes including the future of music with artificial intelligence, music education and documentation, in addition to issues of artistic production.

The festival also includes competitions named after Dr. Rateeba El-Hefny in the fields of Arabic singing for youth and children, and the Arabic orchestra, with total prizes exceeding 280,000 Egyptian pounds, requiring the performance of Umm Kulthum’s works in the singing categories.

The events are accompanied by exhibitions of Arabic calligraphy at Salah Taher Hall and Ziad Bakir Hall, alongside honoring 11 personalities who have enriched the artistic life in Egypt and the Arab world, including prominent figures such as singer Amal Maher, singer Mohamed El Helw, poet Wael Hilal, and maestro Hassan Fikry, in addition to Arab names like Naima Samih and Al Hadi Adam.

The festival opens with a grand concert at the Fountain Theater, including a documentary film about the journey of “Kawkab Al-Sharq” directed by Samer Madi, and concludes with a musical performance by Amal Maher accompanied by the orchestra led by maestro Tamer Fizy.