Latest in Culture Highlight
Latest in Culture
Season of change at the Beethovenfest
“Before one can portray something, one must embody it,” Beethoven once said. Beethovenfest director Nike Wagner seems to take the saying seriously. This year’s festival program is all about change. In musical terminology, the German word “Veränderungen” (changes) has a dual meaning: “variations,” a compositional technique strewn throughout Beethoven’s oeuvre. Works with musical variations are …
‘Islamic State’ blows up tower tombs at Syria’s Palmyra
“Islamic State” (“IS”) has blown up three ancient tower tombs in Palmyra. The loss to the UNESCO World Heritage site is the latest in a series of jihadi demolitions. The chief of Syria’s antiquities department, Maamoun Abdelkarim, confirmed the destruction of the tombs on Friday. “They blew up three tower tombs, the best preserved and …
German peace prize for Syrian poet Adonis sparks outrage
Syrian poet Adonis has not vocally criticized the Assad regime. Now the decision to award him a German peace prize named after the pacifist writer Erich Maria Remarque is under fire. Literarily, Ali Ahmad Said, who uses the pen name Adonis, never budged. For decades, he has shaped the avant-garde poetry scene not only in …
Images that have moved the world
The photo of a dead three-year-old Syrian boy on a Turkish beach has become a symbol for Europe’s refugee crisis. Here are more images that have changed the way we see human tragedies. From the Cold War to conflicts in the Middle East and the World Wars of the 20th century, photojournalists have imformed our …
10 things you didn’t know about Beethoven
How did a rat change Beethoven’s life? Was he really a grouch? Who was his secret lover? There are enough books on the famous composer to fill a library, but there are still many mysteries surrounding his life. 1. He wrote music for a dead poodle. One of the first mysteries in Beethoven’s biography is …
Venice Film Festival draws Hollywood stars despite Canadian competition
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world – and the one with the most beautiful backdrop. This year’s program boasts veteran filmmakers and Hollywood buzz. But who’ll be on the red carpet? For the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, director Alberto Barbera has prepared a mix of Hollywood productions, European …
Tortured alive or poisoned to death: The suffering of stray dogs in Egypt
3701 dogs were culled in Giza and civil society organisations can’t afford saving any more
Another temple in Syria’s Palmyra severely damaged
Activists say the self-styled “Islamic State” has damaged another temple in the Syrian city of Palmyra. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is being systematically razed following occupation by the Islamist militants
Egyptians’ road to Germany through documentaries
Egyptian-German cultural exchange competition teaches journalists about media portals in both countries
Syrian refugee and philosopher receives Germany’s Goethe Medal
A Syrian refugee is among the three winners of Germany’s Goethe Medal for intercultural understanding: philosopher Sadik Al-Azm. Museum director Neil MacGregor and theatre director Eva Sopher were also honoured. The awards ceremony took place in Weimar on 28 August, on the 216th anniversary of Goethe’s birth. This year’s motto was “The Spirit of History”. The …
Visitors decline in Dresden
After five record years in a row, the number of tourists in Dresden has dropped for the first time this year. Cultural events can contribute to attracting more tourists – but xenophobia obviously doesn’t.
I’m a roulette
“Come with me, I’m leading you where Melodies colour the air/And love finds a way Or so we pray”
Between a sonata and a Nakba: Les Fantômes de Jérusalem
“Les Fantômes de Jérusalem” is a beautiful story of loss and pain, art and colours, and a sonata in between every emotion
Hany El-Masry leaves our world at the age of 64
After a long battle with Leukaemia, the Egyptian concept designer, illustrator, visual development artist and storyteller said his goodbyes to this world at the age of 64.
The first James Bond: Sean Connery celebrates his 85th birthday
He was James Bond and the “sexiest man alive,” and was knighted by the Queen. Sean Connery was a heartthrob – but also celebrated for the depth of character he brought to roles. Happy 85th birthday, Sir Sean. To be named the “sexiest man alive” at the age of 59 is quite an achievement. When …
Classifying writer under any one literary genre is the beginning of the end: Ibrahim
Writing novels is a comprehensive human life experience that writers must live with all their senses and feelings; says writer
Breathing new life into Transylvania’s crumbling cultural sites
Transylvania in central Romania is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Cultural and social projects are serving as a model for the whole region.
How the IS is waging war on Syrian culture
The IS brutally murdered Syria’s top archeologist. DW’s Kersten Knipp explains why the beheading is a declaration of war on Syrian culture and intellectuals. When the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) took over Syria’s ancient desert city of Palmyra in May, they were hoping to open a lucrative business. Many of the valuable artifacts in …
How the IS is waging war on Syrian culture
When the terrorist organisation “Islamic State” (IS) took over Syria’s ancient desert city of Palmyra in May, they were hoping to open a lucrative business. Many of the valuable artefacts in the city, they reckoned, would make their way into the international art market and become a sizeable source of income
By train, 2 continents, from Beijing to St. Petersburg
It was the realisation of a dream from a childhood obsessed with trains: taking one of the world’s longest train rides, on the Trans Mongolian Express and Trans Siberian Railway.
Ministry of Antiquities continues attempts to save lost heritage
Sekhemka statue transportation date delayed to end ofAugust, whilst searches to locate Queen Nefertiti’s tomb still ongoing
In pictures: Heat wave continues across Egypt
People suffer from unprecedented heat wave which has been hitting the country for the past weeks
The echoes of Radwa Ashour’s last scream
Ashour’s long-awaited and much-celebrated book is the second part of her autobiography.
Doctors face possible national threat
During a shift that started like any other, Dr Mina Nabil, an intensive care and anaesthesia doctor, received a phone call at 4pm, informing him of a critically ill patient suffering from a dangerously high temperature and breathing difficulties
Nothing has changed in the culture scene over the last year
“There isn’t any movement in literature and nothing has changed,” says writer
Publishing field is full of scammers who take advantage of young writers: El-Banna
“I realised that history truly repeats itself, and that’s the core of “Bab El-Hegzay,” says author
Kamala Restaurant: A journey to Asia on the banks of the Nile
Now that the summer is firmly here, spending your weekend chilling out after a week of stress and negativity due to the bad weather is what everyone seeks to do. Yet, with the common complaints around the traditionally frequented restaurants and cafes, it is about time to try a new experience at a unique and …
In Video: Egyptian actor Nour El Sherif dies after long struggle with illness
The beloved actor was diagnosed with deficiencies in his circulatory system that led to problems in the arteries of the legs, as well as problems in his lungs and breathing.
Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif dies after long struggle with illness
Egyptian veteran actor Nour El-Sherif closed his eyes for the last time yesterday at the age of 69, according to the Middle East News Agency (MENA). “The actor passed away after a long battle with illness,” actor Sameh El-Serety told MENA. “The funeral will be held Wednesday at Al-Shorta Mosque in 6th of October City.” …
The woman, the warrior, the philosopher: ‘The Problem of Ruling’
By Nouran Maamoun “Women in Council” was a Greek comedy by Aristophanes and it was played in 392 BC, then after more than two millennia, that ancient play inspired one of Tawfiq Al-Hakim’s most brilliant works; Praxa, or ‘The Problem of Ruling’. The book is only a little more than a 100 pages, …