Cairo Symphony Orchestra - Recent Development and Works

Recent Development and Works

Since the beginning of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra's residence at the new Cairo Opera House in 1990 and with Maestro Ahmed El Saedi as its music director and principal conductor, the orchestra has restricted its activities to symphonic concerts. This has enabled the orchestra to forge new horizons in both repertoire and number of concerts. Works by Bruckner, Mahler, Ravel, Debussy, Schoenberg, Bartok, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and others have become an integral part of the orchestra's repertoire.

Steven Lloyd was the orchestra's music director and principal conductor from 2005-2007, whilst Marcello Mottadelli, the current incumbent of the post, was appointed in 2008. Since the integration of the A Cappella Choir into the Cairo Symphony Orchestra both have performed together major works for chorus and orchestra such as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the “Missa Solemnis”, Mahler’s Second Symphony and Brahms' “A German Requiem”.

The Cairo Symphony Orchestra has played a crucial role in the development of Egyptian contemporary music and in the inspiration of Egyptian musicians-soloists and conductors alike. Among the successful highlights organized and performed during the past seasons was the “Beethoven Festival’ celebrating the 175th anniversary of his death, the “Twentieth Century Music Festival,” and the “Arab Perspectives Festival.” The latter festival was founded by Ahmed El Saedi and first held in February 2002, and except for 2008 has been held each February since.