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Press Release19 April 2023Siemens AGMunich
Siemens strengthening opera in Egypt
“One purpose of our activities is to promote diversity
and equal opportunity in the cultural sphere, too,” said Stephan Frucht,
Artistic Director of the Siemens Arts Program. “Our approach to continuing
education, which is an approach that places a strong emphasis on sustainably
developing musical theater, also plays a major role for young people in Egypt. In
the process, intercultural skills become a universal capacity that encourages
people to embrace peaceful and cooperative togetherness.”
German opera
director Manuel Schmitt is directing the production. Set and costume designer
Bernhard Siegl, who is also from Germany, is overseeing the design of the stage-set
and costumes. He will also be training Bibliotheca staff in both areas. With
this German-Egyptian education project, the production team aims to provide
fresh momentum for Alexandria’s opera tradition, develop further expertise within
Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s choir and foster talented young singers. The project is
also seeking to build local skills in the directing of operas and in stage-set
and costume design, all with an eye to fostering sustainable, continuing
development in the area of musical theater.
“This
staging of ‘Don Giovanni’ is the only opera production at the Bibliotheca
Alexandrina this year and marks a highlight among the few opera performances in
Egypt,” said director Manuel Schmitt. “For me, the coming together of two very
different cultural spheres – the Central European with the Egyptian – makes
rehearsing and performing ‘Don Giovanni’ in Egypt a very special and important
cultural endeavor. The language of Mozart and Da Ponte becomes a common
language for people who have very different cultural backgrounds and thus also view
this opera from very different perspectives. This grappling with the operatic
work and the themes it addresses is a fundamental component of the staging work.
In this project, the context-based portrayal of sexuality, violence against
women, masculinity and femininity, and the questioning of identity roles, as
well as similar topics, are to be discussed from the viewpoints of two cultural
traditions and then lead to a multicultural performance.”
For the
ensemble of soloists, the Siemens Arts Program initiated an international
casting call to fill the roles of Donna Anna and Leporello. The casting jury
chose Mexican baritone Antonio Azpiri and Serbian/Bulgarian soprano Isidora Moles.
The jury consisted of conductor Nayer Nagui, director Manuel Schmitt and the
Siemens Arts Program.
“Alexandria has
always been a cosmopolitan city where opera, musical theater and concerts of
all kinds have always been present and have created a strong community engaged
in cultural activities,” said director Nayer Nagui. “Projects like these bring
back this ‘Belle Époque’ while including young artists give the city a future
and sustainability."
Sabine
Erlenwein, Head of the Goethe-Institut in Alexandria, adds: “This production of
‘Don Giovanni’ stands for strengthening international artistic and cultural
ex-change. The collaborative synergy between the German director, German set
and stage designer, the international singers, and the choir of the Bibliotheca
Alexandria under the baton of conductor Nayer Nagui will make the work to stage
‘Don Giovanni’ an exciting and creative experience for everyone involved. The
process of staging the opera is something very special – as is the prospect of
being able to thrill thousands of Egyptian opera fans with Mozart’s music.”
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.