Egypt tunes in to nostalgia for golden age of Arab song

CAIRO - Standing before a rapt crowd, Ahmed Adel oozes charm with his passionate performance of an Egyptian classic, evoking a romantic nostalgia for Arabic songs of the past.

After a melodious introduction on the oud, the famed oriental lute, Adel croons his way through a "mawal", a traditional melody boasting long vowels.

"Ya leil" ("O night"), he sings, with the dreamy languor of the original performer, Egyptian legend Mohamed Abdel Wahab.