Visions of beauty and splendor inhabit opera houses. Mesmerizing music and top-tier vocal artistry that transcend the ordinary, vibrant costumes tell stories and plays, and art in every form guarantees a magical experience. The first opera house in Egypt dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when Khedive Ismail initiated its construction on the occasion of the inauguration of the Suez Canalin 1869 . Swayed by the splendor of European richness, the Khedivial Opera House was constructed in six months by Italian architect, Pietro Avoscani in the Azbakeya district in Old Cairo. Ismail commissioned Ascovani to design a small-scale replica of Milan’s magnificent opera, Teatro alla Scala. In honor of the Khedivial Opera Houses’s opening in November 1869, Ismail welcomed world royalty and elites to attend Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto performance. Verdi was a famous Italian composer, best known for his operas. When Verdi was commissioned to perform, he initially was going to perform one of the most popular operas, Opera Aida. It was unfortunately not ready by the time of the Opera House’s inauguration; however, Opera Aida was performed two years later in 1871. The limestone…
