Rumi Symphony Project Presents 'Iranian Sounds of Peace' in U.S.
Iranian Sounds of Peace: An East/West Musical Dialogue Artistic Director: Hafez Nazeri
Hafez and Shahram Nazeri (photo Michael Tucker)
Featuring the legendary Shahram Nazeri and an all-star ensemble of nine
musicians from around the world, the Rumi Symphony Project is an ongoing work in
Hafez Nazeri's search to integrate classical Iranian and Western musical
traditions into a new genre. While the essence and elemental structures of
Persian music are preserved, the music is no longer solely Persian or Western it
seeks the transcendent tone of Rumi's Sufi poetry, transposed into a new context
to celebrate the diversity of voices that forms our common humanity. This
musical discourse is a metaphor of our hope for understanding and peace.
For Hafez Nazeri, the opportunity to be the first Iranian composer
to headline Carnegie Hall with his opus titled "Iranian Sounds of
Peace" will fulfill a dream of helping promote peace and
understanding between Eastern and Western cultures, especially after
the crackdown on the 2009 Iranian election protests in June.
"At a time when all that we hear about
Iran is filtered through headlines of intolerance, chaos and
violence, I feel it is important to portray a 7,000-year cultural
history with its deeply poetic and artistic mystical traditions,"
says Nazeri. His goal is to be the "new face of Iran in the West,
and create something that talks to young Iranians."
Concert in Hollywood,
California: Rite of Fall, Mehregan
Sat, October 3, 2009, 7:30 pm at Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood CA-90028 USA (MAP)
Buy tickets
The Nazeri Music
Foundation debuts the world premiere of the "Rumi Symphony Project: Cycle One"
this fall in Los Angeles. The performance entitled "Rite of Fall: Mehregan" will
be presented by Nederlander Concerts and Rum & Humble with assistance from the
Asia Society.
Nazeri, Voice
Hafez Nazeri, Artistic Director and Setar
Artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center:
Paul Neubauer, Viola
Ida Kavafian, Viola
Fred Sherry, Cello
Special Guests:
Matt Haimovitz, Cello
Tim Cobb, Double Bass
Hussein Zahawy, Percussion
