Hafez Nazeri – The New Face of Iran – Premieres "Rumi Symphony Orchestra: Cycle One" - IMN

Hafez Nazeri – The New Face of Iran – Premieres "Rumi Symphony Orchestra: Cycle One"

Wednesday July 15, 2009

An East/West “musical dialogue” featuring Hafez Nazeri and his legendary father, Shahram Nazeri, with an international all-star ensemble at Pantages Theatre and Carnegie Hall

The Nazeri Music Foundation debuts the world premiere of the “Rumi Symphony Orchestra: Cycle One” this fall. In Los Angeles, the performance entitled “Rite of Fall: Mehregan” will be presented by Nederlander Concerts and Rum & Humble at the Pantages Theatre on Saturday, October 3 at 8:00 pm. In New York City, the performance entitled “Iranian Sounds of Peace” will be presented by NMF in association with Absolutely Live Entertainment and the Asia Society, at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 pm. “Iranian Sounds of Peace” is the first Iranian headlining event at this revered venue.

Tickets for Pantages Theatre at $30, $45, $75, $90, $150, $200 and $300 are on sale Saturday, July 18 at 10:00 am at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at the Greek Theatre Box office, and at all Ticketmaster outlets including select Macy’s, The Beverly Center, La Curacao and Ritmo Latino stores.

Tickets for Carnegie Hall at $30, $45, $60, $90, $140, $180 and $350, are on sale Tuesday, July 14 at carnegiehall.org, by calling Carnegie Charge at 212-247-7800 or at the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue.

The pieces are composed by 29-year-old Hafez Nazeri, Iran’s most influential young composer and mark a new chapter in integrating Middle Eastern and Western traditions through the music of both cultures. Nazeri describes the concept and philosophy behind this opus as “a musical discourse to promote world peace.”

“At a time when all that we hear about Iran is filtered through headlines of intolerance, chaos and violence, it is important to portray a 7,000 year cultural history with its deeply poetic and artistic mystical traditions,” explains Nazeri.

Together with his internationally acclaimed father, Shahram Nazeri – dubbed the “Iranian Pavarotti” and the first to set Rumi’s poetry to music over 40 years ago – the Nazeri’s will continue their legacy of expanding the definition of Persian music with the “Rumi Symphony Orchestra: Cycle One.”

Musicians joining Hafez Nazeri (“Hafez” setar/vocals) and Shahram Nazeri (vocals) are: Artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Paul Neubauer, viola; Ida Kavafian, viola and Fred Sherry, cello; in addition to Matt Haimovitz, cello; Tim Cobb, double bass; Hussein Zahawy, percussion and Salar Nader, percussion

Nazeri’s music captures and preserves the essence and elemental structures of Persian music, while embracing new ideas developed out of Western Classical music such as orchestration, harmony, rhythmic patterns and melodic forms. The music’s broad accessibility opens the cultural dialogue to new listeners worldwide, and matches the transcendent tone of Rumi’s Sufi poetry, transposed into the context of a new age.

Not only is Hafez Nazeri the composer of the work but he will also sing and play the new instrument he has created based on the traditional setar. The instrument is named “Hafez,” referring to the composer and his namesake, the great 13th century mystic poet. The “Hafez” extends the range of the setar by incorporating two additional low strings to craft greater melodic and harmonic range – making it the first new Iranian instrument developed in modern times.

The Passion of Rumi (from Passion of Rum
Fanayam Man II (from Passion of Rumi)
Beyond (from Passion of Rumi)

[+] open in new window

Watch what's on

[+] open in new window

News Archive

IMN - International Music Network