Cairo Opera Orchestra
Since the founding of the Cairo Opera Orchestra in 1994, it has played a main role in Egypt’s music scene. The orchestra’s repertoire includes a vast number of celebrated classic ballets and famous operas or operettas which are successfully performed with the Cairo Opera Ballet Company or the Cairo Opera Company.
In 1995, Sherif Mohie El Din was appointed as an Orchestra Director, and the Orchestra was joined by an increasing number of talented Egyptian musicians. Shortly afterwards, they appeared in a series of symphonic afternoon concerts under the name of “Music for All”, which won instant acclaim.
The Orchestra has been headed by various Egyptian and international conductors such as Patrick Fournillier, Dominique Rouits (France), Robert Lyall (USA), Ivan Filiev (Bulgaria), Giorgio Croci (Italy), Youssef El Sisi (Egypt) and Moustafa Nagui. Among the soloists participating in the orchestra concerts are the renowned Monserrat Caballe, Wolfgang Marschner, Gisèle Herbet, Dame Malvina Mayor, as well as top Egyptian soloists. In addition to its important role in national tours, the Orchestra was invited to several tours in countries such as Austria, Germany, France and Lebanon.
In the 2002/2003 season, Nader Abbassi was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Cairo Opera Orchestra. He significantly advanced the Orchestra’s skills by encouraging a versatile, professional approach to the performance of music.
To broaden the skills of the musicians and solo singers, Nader Abbassi added to the schedule orchestral performances, called Gala Concerts. Up to seven Gala Concerts of outstanding quality are performed each season.
The Cairo Opera Orchestra participated in famous ballets, operas and Gala Concerts including Verdi’s epic “Aida”, which was performed at the Pyramids platform. The Orchestra collaborated with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra and the Spirit of Europe Orchestra in two Gala Concerts and participated in some of the world’s most renowned music festivals such as Ludwigshafen, Germany, or Servantino and Tamaulipas Festivals in Mexico.
In the 2011/2012 season, Nayer Nagui was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Cairo Opera Orchestra.
Since season 2024/2025, Mohamed Saad Basha is Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Cairo Opera Orchestra.
Artistic Director
Mohamed Saad Basha
Principle Conductor & Artistic Director
Composer and Orchestra Conductor, Professor and Head of the Composition and Conducting Department at the Conservatory, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Cairo Opera Orchestra. He graduated from the Composition and Conducting Department at the Conservatory in 1997 and obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy of Arts in 2008.
He received the State Encouragement Award in the field of musical composition in 2016. Represented Egypt in many international festivals in Germany, France, Switzerland, Serbia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, etc.
He founded El-Sakia String Orchestra in 2010, and the Nile Symphony Orchestra in 2015.
Winner of numerous awards from the Supreme Council of Culture. Composed the music for the ballet "Cleopatra" on a commission from the Egyptian Opera House in 2019. He signed a contract with the German Schott-Music agency to publish his musical compositions in 2012, and also signed a contract with the Japanese Da-Vinci agency to publish his musical compositions since 2017.
He has been teaching orchestral conducting at the Academy of Arts since 2008, in addition to composition, music technology and theory. He is a member of several competition judging committees affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is currently a member of the Music, Opera and Ballet Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture.
Since season 2024/2025, Mohamed Saad Basha is Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Cairo Opera Orchestra.
