Following a meeting with Red Sea Opera Founder, Irish Soprano Ann Jennings, Osman El Mahdy has joined forces with the company to bring opera to Hurghada!  

Internationally acclaimed violinist, Osman was First Violin and Concertmaster of the Cairo Opera Orchestra from 1993 – 2005, when he retired to dedicate more time to his work as a soloist and chamber musician, and also to teaching. He is also a founding and current member of the Cairo Opera House Quartet, playing First Violin since it was formed in 1991.

Osman, who plans to make his base in Hurghada, said, “I am delighted to find this group of dedicated professionals, and am looking forward to working with them to bring more culture to Hurghada!”

The Red Sea Opera (RSO) is the brainchild of Soprano Ann Jennings (www.ann-jennings.com). A graduate of the National University of Ireland (Music) and the Royal Irish Academy of Music (Singing), Ann has performed countless roles around Europe. She frequently sings leading roles in Europe, and is currently preparing for several concerts to be held in Germany in September and a return trip to Ireland in October, where she will perform in La Boheme.

Since Ann made her base in Hurghada 6 years ago it has been her dream to bring opera to the Red Sea. Says Ann, “I am a co-founder of the North West Opera (www.northwestopera.com) in my home country of Ireland, but I have always thought how wonderful it would be to start an opera company here.” A chance meeting with fellow expat Selma Marindin brought the dream a little closer. Selma, an ex-record company PR executive with many years of music industry experience (although in the totally different field working with bands such as Metallica and Motorhead!) also had a longing for more live music in Hurghada. The unlikely pair spent hours discussing possibilities in Hurghada.   Then in 2009, whilst performing in Europe, Ann realised that there were also many performers who were enthusiastic about the idea of performing in Egypt.

Another chance meeting with Karin Kurzeja, owner of the Sing & Musik Akademie in Hurghada, began to move things faster – Karin, who performed for 5 years with Osnabruck Opera, had qualified in piano & cello at the Conservatoire of Music, Katowice, and was also a qualified Conductor!

Ann said, “It’s amazing the people and talent you can find right here in Hurghada! The idea of the RSO is to expand on this talent and find others in Egypt to develop a truly international opera company here in Hurghada.”

The RSO plans to combine the talents of international opera stars with those of Egyptian professionals and is currently planning work on its first production which they hope to perform at the beginning of 2011. 

Any professionals (classical concert musicians or singers – experts in lighting production, set design etc) interested in working with the RSO please contact Selma Marindin on mobile:  0121727263, email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , website:  www.redseaopera.com.