Reda Troupe’s Musical Archive Revived for a New Generation
Renowned conductor Selim Sahab is leading a revival of Egypt’s legendary Reda Troupe, re-recording its complete musical archive and training young performers to bring its folk legacy to new audiences.
Egypt’s iconic Reda Troupe is undergoing a full-scale musical revival, with its entire archive now being reorchestrated, re-recorded, and prepared for a new generation of stage performers. The project is helmed by conductor Selim Sahab, who is blending advanced recording technologies with updated arrangements and live orchestration to preserve the troupe’s legacy while adapting it for contemporary audiences.
As part of the initiative, young musicians and vocalists are being trained to carry forward the troupe’s distinctive sound. The process includes redrafting scores, hosting workshops that merge traditional performance with academic rigour, and rebuilding the troupe’s sonic identity for modern stages. Sahab confirmed that the revival also extends to the National Folk Art Troupe’s musical repertoire.
The initiative was unveiled at a public event at Cairo’s Balloon Theatre, as part of the Ministry of Culture’s wider strategy to safeguard intangible heritage and reinvigorate Egypt’s national performing troupes. The evening featured performances of Reda Troupe classics such as ‘Halawet Shamsena’, ‘Al-Ataba Gazaz’, and ‘El-Bint Beida’, followed by spiritual songs from Mostafa Shawky and patriotic selections from Louay.
