Hughes de Courson- Mozart in Egypt 1 & 2

'Mozart in Egypt' is a 1997 album by various artists. It represents a fusion of Mozart's work with the sounds, rhythms and instruments typical of contemporary Egyptian music. The album saw considerable success in continental Europe, especially France, but had only limited success elsewhere. In August 2005 a second volume was released in Europe only, entitled Mozart in Egypt 2.

There are problems, of course, in trying to marry Mozart and Egypt. Western music takes pride in the vertical arts of harmony and counterpoint. Arabic music is linear, one event following another. The result then is what the producers describe as a "crazy diagonal." And yet it works. Mozart sounds just fine on the oud [ancestor of the lute], and its way of decorating a melodic line is not at all dissimilar to the Western approach. Best of all is hearing the piano and oud together, when one player takes the melodic line, the other harmony.

Mozart in Egypt 1

1. Ikhtitaf Fi Assaraya
2. Double Quartet In F, K. 496
3. Lamma Bada Yatathenna (Symphony No. 40)
4. Mahdiyat (Lullabies)
5. Concerto For Oud & Piano No. 23 6. Hamilu Lhawa Tahibou (Papageno's Aria No. 20)
7. Yaman Hawa (Thamos, King Of Egypt)
8. Mawwall
9. Double Quartet In E Flat, K. 374
10. Ouazat Al Kahira (L'oca Del Cairo)
11. Egyptian Symphony No. 25
12. Dhikr / Requiem / Golgotha

Mozart in Egypt 2

1. Al Bedaya 2. Mozart In Egypt (from Cosi Fan Tutte)
3. Al Sahm Al Taen (from Soave Sia Il Vento)
4. Alatul (Concerto For Kaval & Flute)
5. Al Sahara (from Fantasy In D)
6. Al Maghfera (from Qui Tollis)
7. Ninna Nam
8. Al Raqs (Minuet)
9. Ya Shady Symphony (Final Symphony No. 40)
10. Alexandria Quintet K. 581
11. The Queen Of The 1,001 Nights
12. Egyptian March
13. Layla Misriya (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik)
14. The Quarrel In The Seraglio
15. Nubian Prayer (Mawal)