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A Night of Cultural Exchange Through Music: ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ Performs in London

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
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A Night of Cultural Exchange Through Music: ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ Performs in London

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission

The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ is set to enchant London with an evening of cultural and musical performances at the historic Westminster Central Hall on Saturday.

The event comes following performances at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, and Metropolitan Opera Theater at Lincoln Center in New York.

Th event is a unique celebration of the diverse musical heritage of Saudi Arabia, as well as an artistic and cultural collaboration with the United Kingdom.

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in an evening extravaganza of intercultural collaboration. The orchestras will perform both traditional Saudi songs and British classical compositions, showcasing the musical heritage and cultural diversity of Saudi Arabia.

The performance will also include joint and solo performances, as well as a musical medley finale.

CEO of the Music Commission Paul Pacifico emphasized the significance of the event in sharing Saudi culture with the world: “The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ concert series exemplify our commitment to cultural exchange on the world stage,” he said.

“Music is unique in its ability to communicate across languages and borders and to help foster mutual understanding and appreciation. I very much look forward to our collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and to the chance to introduce music from Saudi Arabia to a UK audience.”

The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ is led by the Saudi Music Commission, one of eleven sector-specific cultural commissions under the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

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Egypt Unveils Ancient Rock-cut Tombs and Burial Shafts in Luxor

Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
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Egypt Unveils Ancient Rock-cut Tombs and Burial Shafts in Luxor

Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)

Egypt unveiled several discoveries near the famed city of Luxor on Wednesday, including ancient rock-cut tombs and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years.

They were unearthed at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut’s funerary temple at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile’s West Bank, according to a statement released by Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage. It said it worked in tandem with the Supreme Council of Antiquities on the site since September 2022.

Artifacts found at the tombs included bronze coins with the image of Alexander the Great dating to the Time of Ptolemy I (367-283), children’s toys made of clay, cartonnage and funerary masks that covered mummies, winged scarabs, beads and funerary amulets, The AP reported.

Hawass told reporters that the discoveries could “reconstruct history” and offer an understanding of the type of programs ancient Egyptians designed inside a temple.

The archaeologists also found the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s Valley Temple, rock-cut tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (1938 B.C. - 1630 B.C.), burial shafts from the 17th dynasty, the tomb of Djehuti-Mes and part of the Assassif Ptolemaic Necropolis.

The rock-cut tombs had been previously robbed during the Ptolemaic period and later. Still, the Egyptian teams uncovered some artifacts such as pottery tables that were used to offer bread, wine and meat.

Inside the burial shafts dating back to 1580 B.C. - 1550 B.C., anthropoid wooden coffins were found, including one that belonged to a young child. It remained intact since its burial some 3,600 years ago. War archery bows were also found inside the burial chamber, indicating that those who owned the tombs had military backgrounds and fought to liberate Egypt from the Hyksos.

Not many artifacts from Djehuti Mes’s tomb were found, but the tomb itself reveals more about Djehuti Mes, who oversaw Queen Teti Sheri’s palace. The date engraved on the Djehuti Mes’ funerary stelae indicates that the tomb goes back to the 9th year of King Ahmose I’s reign (1550 B.C. - 1525 B.C.).

Part of the extended Ptolemaic necropolis that occupied the site of the causeway and the Valley Temple was also uncovered. The tombs in the cemetery were built of mud bricks over the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s temple. A large part of the necropolis was unearthed earlier in the 20th century but wasn’t properly documented.

In November, Egyptian and American archaeologists excavated an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials near Luxor. The tomb, which dates to the Middle Kingdom, was found in the South Asasif necropolis, next to the Temple of Hatshepsut.