★ The night at Abdeen Palace, performed by the world-renowned maestro Omar Khairat, felt like a passage through memory. It was an evening where the sound of the piano merged with the magic of history, turning the hall into a bridge connecting past and present, human and place, art and immortality. It was an exceptional night where the eye longed to hold onto the memory for as long as possible inside the grandeur of the historic palace, with a large audience of music lovers and admirers from all generations. Actor Ahmed El-Sakka opened the event, saying: “The Egyptian artist Omar Khairat is the spiritual father of music. With every night he returns to the stage, hope returns to the fine arts, and souls rediscover the serenity that music offers.” From the very first moments, the atmosphere began a journey through time. The majestic palace walls became a glowing backdrop illuminated by masterful lighting synchronized with the opening notes. The hall seemed to breathe with every melody, and in the intentional silences between compositions, the stillness carried meaning — as if silence itself were part of the music, and the audience a part of the performance. Among Khairat’s iconic pieces that shaped the emotional memory of the public were “The Night of Fatma’s Arrest,” “The Conscience of Miss Hekmat,” “This Is Life,” “Something Beautiful,” “Ghawyesh,” and other works that revived cinematic memories and timeless stories conveyed through music. In those moments, eyes glistened with pride, and hearts lived the present moment with emotional depth. The lighting reflected on the palace’s classical facades, merging with the rising musical phrases from the stage. The walls seemed to recognize the orchestra’s magic — a blend of awe, brilliance, and live interaction. Each new piece sent waves of emotion through the audience, as if preparing to embrace the melody across time, while the lighting revealed the artistic significance of the moment. Thus, the Abdeen night illuminated a new chapter in Omar Khairat’s artistic journey — one marked by decades of creation, and his enduring ability to transform music into a living, unforgettable memory.

★ For two consecutive nights, maestro Omar Khairat appeared before the audience of the Cairo Opera House, standing on the grand stage to deliver melodies that carried a message of peace — one capable of crossing borders and reaching hearts without permission. In a scene that reflected the value of art in times of war, music lovers gathered to welcome performances filled with authenticity and serenity. Khairat played with mastery, addressing the souls of the audience as the hall transformed into a different kind of battlefield — one where art battles ugliness, and beauty stands against destruction. Every note he played became a new language of peace written upon weary hearts. The audience warmly interacted with his timeless compositions, which have become part of the Egyptian and Arab emotional memory — pieces such as “The Fortune Teller,” “The Night of Fatma’s Arrest,” “The Conscience of Miss Hekmat,” “Something Beautiful,” “The Moon’s Face,” and many others that define his musical legacy. With every piece, thunderous applause filled the hall, as the audience seemed unwilling to let peace fade or allow the music to fall silent. It was a night Khairat carved into the record of art with pure brilliance, proving that in times of conflict, music remains the beating heart wrapped in tenderness — calling us all to reconcile with our dreams.

★ In what was described as a historic moment, the words of the great musician Omar Khairat echoed during Egypt’s first official celebration held on October 15. His music deeply touched the hearts of Egyptians, carrying a message woven from the spirit of the past, the pulse of the present, and the dream of the future. Khairat stated: “Today is a tribute to our ancient history, our bright future, and all the efforts that have worked to preserve Egyptian identity.” He emphasized that music is not merely nostalgia for the past, but a renewable energy that resonates through theaters and buildings, shaping the emotional memory of generations. He added that Egyptian music holds a unique significance for the whole world, affirming that art will always remain Egypt’s most powerful soft force of expression. The Cairo Opera House hosted the major celebration organized by the Supreme Council of Culture to honor Egypt’s prominent musicians, including the late master Sayed Mekkawy, Rageh Hassan, Abdel Azim Abdel Haq, Nesma Abdel Aziz, among others. During the celebration, Dr. Ahmed Awad, Rapporteur of the Folk Culture Committee, announced that March 18 will be designated annually as “Folk Art Day,” coinciding with the birthday of the legendary artist Mahmoud Reda. He added that this year marks the launch of the First Cairo Folk Art Forum, celebrating the beauty and heritage of Egyptian identity. Khairat concluded: “Loyalty to history gives words their foundational meaning. Loyalty to those who built our artistic glory revives the spirit of cultural recognition. This occasion is one of the ways we connect with the soul of the nation — honoring the past while celebrating the present.” He affirmed that Egypt will always remain a land of creativity and a hub for nurturing culture and art.

★ At around eight in the evening, the sea outside whispers its rhythms, while the concert hall fills to the last seat. Eyes fix on the gleaming black piano at center stage, awaiting the opening note. Maestro Omar Khairat enters to warm applause, ready to give his audience an unforgettable night. He chose Alexandria as the first stop of his concert series “Hekayetna” (Our Stories), organized by the Ministry of Culture, bringing back his best-known compositions in a refreshed form infused with the spirit of the Mediterranean city. The evening opens with the enchanting notes of “The Fortune Teller and the Enchanted Perfumes”, followed by a journey through Khairat’s musical world, rich with scales, transitions, and harmonies that shaped his legacy. One attendee remarked: “Omar Khairat is an experience. You listen to his music and suddenly you find your own story told in a way only you can feel. Each of us carries our own soundtrack.” Khairat told his audience: “Music is not just notes — it is emotions reborn every night, yet without words. That’s why it speaks directly to the soul.” The concert moved between pieces that shaped the emotional memory of an entire generation: “The Case of Uncle Ahmed,” “The Night of Fatma’s Arrest,” “Arefa,” “Like the Wind,” “Scarecrow,” “The Conscience of Miss Hekmat”, along with more recent compositions for acclaimed films and TV series. On stage, the musicians performed in perfect harmony with Khairat’s piano phrases, while the audience appeared deeply moved by the atmosphere — suspended between the “sea within” the hall and the Mediterranean Sea just outside, as if the whole city were performing with him. At the end of the evening, the audience stood in prolonged applause. Khairat addressed them saying: “Alexandria holds a special place in my heart, and tonight brought back priceless memories.” Thus, “Hekayetna” emerged from the shores of Alexandria to remain a lasting chapter in Egypt’s musical memory.