The Egyptian Opera House: The Oldest Opera in Africa and the Middle East

Music is food for the soul, and culture is the beacon of the mind. Opera is not a foreign art to Eastern or Egyptian tastes in particular, as ancient Egyptian history is full of musical models accompanied by dramatic performance and poetry. The walls of temples are engraved with magnificent scenes from ancient Egyptian celebrations, demonstrating the importance placed on music, singing, and dance. The ancient Egyptians even invented many musical instruments out of their love for music, such as the famous harp, which evolved over time into the modern-day oriental oud.

On the banks of the great Nile River, in front of the Qasr El-Nil Bridge—one of Egypt’s oldest landmarks, guarded at its ends by four iconic lion statues—stands a legacy of artistic, cultural, and human history deeply rooted in Egypt. It was once called the Khedivial Opera House, named in connection with the inauguration ceremonies of the Suez Canal during the reign of Khedive Ismail. It was established in one of Cairo’s most important districts at the time, and the square in front of it was first known as “Theatre Square,” then “Ibrahim Pasha Square,” and finally, in September 1954, it was officially named “Opera Square”—a name it still bears today.

Its construction took six months and cost 1.6 million Egyptian pounds. At the time, one pound was equivalent to seven and a half grams of gold, meaning that one historical pound is worth approximately 7,550 Egyptian pounds today.

On November 1, 1869, Khedive Ismail inaugurated the opera house, accompanied by Empress Eugénie (wife of Emperor Napoleon III), Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, the Crown Prince of Prussia, and prominent figures from the worlds of art and politics across the globe. Verdi’s music was performed by an orchestra, and the artists presented Rigoletto, adorned with real jewels in honor of the distinguished guests. The opera house featured one of the world’s largest and most luxurious stages, accommodating 850 people.

To commemorate the opening, French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette asked Khedive Ismail to choose a story from ancient Egyptian history to form the basis of a poetic opera. This resulted in the legendary opera Aida, with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni and music by the legendary Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who was rewarded by the Khedive with 150,000 gold francs. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Aida was not performed at the grand opening but premiered two years later, on December 24, 1871.

For nearly a century, the Khedivial Opera House stood as a symbol of Egyptian pride until the tragic fire of October 28, 1971. The wooden building, with its unique architectural style, was reduced to ashes in the heart of Cairo, destroying costumes, decorations, stage accessories, and many rare artifacts.

Following the destruction of the elegant Khedivial Opera House, with its ornate engravings and statues, Cairo was left without an opera house for nearly two decades. Finally, a new Cairo Opera House was built on El Gezira Island. The project was made possible through collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Egypt’s Ministry of Culture. The design was tailored to harmonize with its surroundings and featured a modern Islamic architectural style. On March 31, 1985, late President Hosni Mubarak laid the foundation stone. In May of the same year, the Japanese company Kajima began construction. The project was completed at the end of March 1988, after 34 months of work. Around 30 Japanese engineers and administrators, along with approximately 500 Egyptian workers (and six additional engineers), participated in the project.

The new Cairo Opera House was inaugurated on October 10, 1988, in the presence of the late President Hosni Mubarak, Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (younger brother of the Emperor of Japan), and King Salman bin Abdulaziz, then the Prince of Riyadh.

That night, Cairo witnessed a grand official, cultural, and artistic celebration. Percussion groups and mounted horsemen bearing colorful flags paraded from the beginning to the end of Qasr El-Nil Bridge. Police Academy students surrounded the statue of Saad Zaghloul overlooking the opera, and candles and candelabras illuminated the opera’s courtyard.

Amid this parade, President Mubarak cut the ribbon and unveiled the commemorative plaque, surrounded by leading Egyptian and international musicians, artists, intellectuals, and cultural figures, alongside ministers, princes, ambassadors, and political dignitaries.

The original opera was the first in Africa and had one of the largest and most elegant stages in the world. Today, the Cairo Opera House includes several important venues:

The Main Hall:
Dedicated to major performances, including Egyptian and international ballets. It is equipped with modern fire safety systems and accommodates 1,200 seats.

The Small Hall:
Used for smaller performances, cultural evenings, and seminars. It seats around 500 people.

The Open-Air Theatre:
Designated for summer and youth performances, it holds about 600 seats and hosts a wide variety of local and international shows.

The Fine Arts Hall:
This hall hosts individual and group art exhibitions by Egyptian and international artists, aiming to promote fine arts, public taste, and global art movements.

The Egyptian Opera House Museum:
The museum serves as a visual encyclopedia documenting the history of the opera house and its major works and stars since its inception. It has two main sections: one dedicated to the old Khedivial Opera until its destruction, and the other focused on the new opera house. The museum is continuously updated and serves as a popular destination for tourists and culture enthusiasts.

The Opera Library:
It contains Arabic and foreign books in various fields and houses most operatic works, including musical scores by Egyptian and international composers. The library is open to researchers and scholars.