The Khedivial (Royal) Opera House in Cairo

Opera as an art form fits well into the music comprehension of Middle Eastern countries, Egypt in particular. In pharaonic history we find references to dramatic performance accompanied with musical patterns or to poetry. Temple walls depict an abundance of ceremonies indicating the profound interest in music, singing and dancing.

Ancient Egypt already knew several musical instruments. One of them is the harp the oldest of which were known in Egypt between 3000 and 2000 BC. Another ancient instrument, whose history is elusive, is the lute which was most probably the precursor of modern occidental instruments such as the mandolin and the oriental oud.

In 1869, Khedive Ismail gave instructions to build an opera house to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal. It was called Khedivial (Royal) Opera House and was meant as a lasting and outstanding symbol of the arts of drama and music. Designed by Italian architects Avoscani and Rossi and constructed by foreign specialists with vast experience in theatre building, the opera was completed within six months only.

The Khedive commissioned a performance that should reflect ancient Egyptian history and French archaeologist Auguste Mariette Bey, in the Khedive’s service, wrote a plot which eventually served the respected Italian librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni as a basis for his libretto. Giuseppe Verdi was appointed to compose the music. The result was the famous opera, Aida, with its heroic quality, powerful dramatic scenes and its passionate music.

Contrary to general belief, Aida was not commissioned for the inauguration of either Opera House or Suez Canal. In fact, the Opera House opened with Rigoletto, an earlier masterpiece by Verdi. Aida was first performed in 1871. The Khedivial Opera House was the first on the African continent to perform world famous operas and symphonic masterpieces.

Tragically, in the early morning of October 28th 1971, the great Royal Opera House was completely destroyed by a fire.