Cairo Opera House

Cairo Opera House. The Opera House which was first ordered to be constructed by Khedive Ismail in 1869, in the Azbakeya District in Central Cairo which was to celebrate the Opening of the Suez Canal where he intended to invite a large number of European Kings and Queens. The Opera House was called The Khedive Opera House and it remained a cultural shining light for approx.. One Hundred and Two Years. The Khedive used this event to lay the foundation for an articulate and long lasting symbol for the Art of Acting. This was the Khedive Opera House, which was constructed in only Six Months to the design of two Italian Archetects, whose names were Rossi and Avoscani. The two Italian Archetects were excellent in their field and had wide experience in Theatre Construction and so were taken to Egypt to carry out the work. Prior to the construction being completed,the Khedive began to prepare a pronounced Performance for his project, that would reflect an insight of Ancient Egyptian History. For this he chose Mariette Pasha to prepare a Story about the Egyptian History that would shape the heart of the poem, play.Mariette Pasha commissioned the Italian Poem Gialanzoni to write the Libretto, and the Musician Verdi was commissioned by the Khedive to compose the Music. The outcome was the most famous Opera Aida, with its Patriotic theme and passionate Song and outstanding Music, a Masterpiece from the Hands of these Three Masterminds. Unfortunatley Aida had not been ready by the time of the Inauguration of The Opera House .However, another triumph by Verdi which was Rigoletto was performed on the Occasion, and the Opera Aida was performed Two Years later. The Opera House was the first in Africa, where World Famous Opera and Symphonic Masterpieces were Performed. On October the 28th 1971, in the early hours of the Morning the Great Royal Opera House was sadly burnt down, and there was nothing left except for Two Statues made by the Egyptian Artist Mohamed Hassan 1892-1961. However on the 10th October 1988 the House which was constructed in the Islamic Style was opened in the presence of the Former President Hosni Mubarak.