The Egyptian Opera House has completed preparations for the opening of one of its most beautiful musical edifices, the Institute of Arab Music, which includes two museums, one for the late musician Mohammed Abdel Wahab, while the other for musical instruments.
The chairman of Egypt’s Opera House, Sameer Farag told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the institute has played a major role in protecting and teaching authentic Arab music. The institute has a historical and a distinct architectural value, said the chairman adding that it was constructed in 1923 to be the first musical institute in the Middle East. The institute has participated in concerts on many national occasions, with the most famous being a concert in support of the revolution in 1919.
Farag mentioned that the institute includes a museum for the acquisitions of the musician Mohammed Abdel Wahab and that the museum was constructed by a specialized Italian company. He added that it includes his rare and personal possessions such as his bedroom, medals, photographs...etc.
Farag explained that the institute will also include a museum of oriental and rare musical instruments and that there will be illustrative notes about the history of each instrument.
The museum will include Egyptian as well as Chinese, Japanese and Indian instruments. In addition, the institute will also have a cultural library that includes many historical, scientific and musical books as well as valuable manuscripts.
Farag said that the institute will be opened in the next few days, in a huge ceremony with the participation of many Arab artists.
On the other hand, Emad Hamdi, the director of the institute, said in a statement that the restoration of the institute took seven years, indicating that Egypt’s Radio and Television will participate in the Abdel Wahab Museum, by offering their possessions of every thing concerning the late musician, including movies and interviews.
The institute of Arabic Music is in Ramsis street, in the middle of Cairo, covering an area of around one thousand meters. The first singer who sang at the institute was the late musician Mohammed Abdel Wahab – Albawaba.com
