Mohamed Abozekry, an oud (lute) master still in his mid-20s, brilliantly explores three Egyptian musical influences: classical Arabic music, Sufi music of northern Egypt, and music popular along the Nile River. Earning a reputation as a musical prodigy, he became the youngest oud professor in the Arab world at the age of 15 and later went on to tour the US as part of the groundbreaking The Nile Project. With Karkadé, his new project that he is bringing to the US for the first time, he evokes the fragrant hibiscus tea founding in Cairo and the eponymous French café at which it was born. He is joined by Farag Hamouda (ney – flute), Lotfy Aly (violin), Hany Bedeir (riqq – percussion), and Aly Mohamed (dehola/daf – percussion).

“an epic, enlightened, and abounding musical journey.” -Télérama

The presentation of Mohamed Abozekry & Karkadé is part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, with support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc. Mohamed Abozekry & Karkadé is a co-production by Roulette and Robert Browning Associates.