The Cairo Opera House complex stands on the southern tip of Gezira Island, just across the Nile from Giza, and hosts Egypt's national opera, ballet, and orchestral companies as well as visiting international performers. The main opera house, opened in 1988, replaced the original khedival opera house that burned down in 1971. It lacks the grandeur of its predecessor but is a serious cultural venue with a full programme season running from October to June.
The complex also contains the Cairo Symphony Orchestra's hall, several smaller theatres, and the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art — a collection of 20th and 21st-century Egyptian painting and sculpture that is worth an hour even for visitors primarily interested in ancient history. Performances are significantly cheaper than equivalent European productions. The programme is published online and tickets can be bought at the box office. Dress code is enforced: no jeans or shorts in the main halls.