Cairo Opera House Protest Causes Cancelled Aida Performance

"Disgruntled artists staged a protest on Tuesday outside the Cairo Opera House in Zamalek, condemning the culture minister's decision earlier in the day to sack head of the opera house, Ines Abdel-Dayem. With car-drivers honking in support, the artists chanted against the ministerial decision, as well as against the minister himself. Alaa Abdel-Aziz was appointed culture minister earlier this month as part of the cabinet reshuffle, and artists responded with concerns about the Brotherhood-affiliated minister. Later in the evening, the audience in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, expecting to watch Verdi's Aida on its closing night, were taken by surprise when the curtains opened to reveal not a performance, but a protest. The

Cairo Opera House Caught In The Crosshairs

With the news of protests happening in Egypt, one cannot help but think of the national treasures that will likely be the victim of vandalism and destruction in order to make a political point. Protesters have already broken into the Egyptian Museum only to damage and destroy artifacts. Riotous crowds have now reached the doorsteps of the Cairo Opera House. Officers are firing tear gas toward crowds gathering near the opera house. The Cairo Opera House is considered a National Cultural Center and is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital located on the southern portion of the Gezira Island close to downtown Cairo. All of these landmarks are near the Nile River and the next stop for demonstrating will be Giza where the Pyramids stand. [Source]