Egyptian violinist Mohammed Adel plays the violin during his balcony concert in Cairo, Egypt on March 31, 2020. Every night, Egyptian violinist Mohammed Adel gives a live concert from his balcony to entertain his neighbors during a coronavirus-caused nationwide nighttime curfew. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
by Ahmed Shafiq
CAIRO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Every night, Egyptian violinist Mohammed Adel gives a live concert from his balcony to entertain his neighbors during a coronavirus-caused nationwide nighttime curfew.
"I decided to perform from my balcony after I saw a video of an Italian violinist doing the same for his neighbors," the 24-year-old university student told Xinhua as he prepared himself for the show.
Egypt has imposed on March 24 a nighttime nationwide curfew to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus which has so far infected 779 people.
Over the past couple of weeks, Egypt has also temporarily suspended schools, universities and all classes, halted flights, cancelled sports activities, closed entertainment places, stopped mass prayers in mosques and churches and shut down museums and archeological sites in an effort to combat the virus.
Adel, who is a professional violinist and winner of a number of domestic musical awards, lives in the densely-populated Ahram neighborhood of Greater Cairo.
"The Egyptian people are very outgoing and they are not used to be bound at home especially at night. That is why I came up with the idea of playing music for them," Adel added, as neighbors in other buildings started to look out from their windows and balconies to enjoy the young man's daily show.
Adel said the goal behind his performances is not only to amuse his neighbors, but also to encourage them to stay at home for their own safety, noting that he gave his first concert on the first day of the curfew.
He said he also wants to show gratitude to healthcare workers as well as raising morale of his neighbors during such tough times.
"I played the first song without the lights so as not to let people see me because I wanted to see if they will accept the idea or not," he said. "As I finished playing, the neighbors filled the air with applause."
The first show lasted for almost half an hour, he said. However, his performances now lasts longer than one hour sometimes.
"I also stream live on my Facebook page where thousands watch my concerts every day," Adel revealed.
Adel urged other musicians, singers and art performers to follow his example to alleviate peoples' boredom during the long hours of the night curfew.
Meanwhile, most of Adel's neighbors do not consider themselves as just audiences.
"We are part of the show...our applause reaches other neighboring districts to encourage them amid the hard times we all have been going through," Ahmed Mahmoud, a 26-year-old employee with local hypermarket, told Xinhua as he enjoyed the show from his apartment window.
He said Adel's shows have helped people in the neighborhood under the curfew, noting that the idea is unique and new.
"All my family members wait eagerly for his concerts. His music provides us with the peace of mind," Mahmoud said as he sipped from a hot cup of tea while watching Adel's performance.
Wafaa Fadel, a lady in her 60s, said the daily shows of Adel bring her happiness since he plays classic Egyptian songs that she loves the most.
"He has created a great state of harmony among the neighbors. We feel like one family as we talk to each other from our windows and terraces before and after his concerts," the lady told Xinhua.
Fadel, who lives in the building facing Adel's home, said the young man's move is a strong message of solidarity among Egyptians.
"We are a civilized country with tens of thousands of musicians and artists. If every musician does the same thing, we will keep staying at home and face the crisis easier," she said, flashing a hopeful smile.
