New West Symphony: A Tour of Iran – Culture Insights
$25
A Tour of Iran is a four-day festival of events culminating in a symphony concert featuring the New West Symphony led by Music and Artistic Director Michael Christie. Exploring centuries old traditions of Iranian poetic and musical cultural influences on the western world, award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and Iranian instrumentalists Pejman Hadadi (tombak and daf) and Masoud Rezaei (setar) join the New West Symphony on this musical voyage. Michael Christie leads the orchestra in Western classical masterworks by Handel, Rameau, Gounod, and the timeless overture to Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Iranian composers Behzad Ranjbaran, Masoud Rezaei, and Golfam Khayam share their inspiration from Iranian sites and poetry.
Full festival schedule:
Thursday, April 8
6pm Pacific
Pre-Concert Talk with David Ravetch
(not available on-demand)
The New West Symphony’s Pre-Concert Talk features UCLA Senior Lecturer, David Ravetch, who explores the music presented in the A Tour of Iran concert in an informative, audience-friendly format.
Friday, April 9
7pm Pacific
Culture Insights
In Culture Insights, the New West Symphony offers insights into Southern California–Iranian culture; demonstrations of traditional instruments and dance; and discussions about history, arts, and music with distinguished guest artists including: Dr. Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, a distinguished literary figure and Iranologist who has written dozens of books and hundreds of scholarly articles on poetry and language; Grammy-winning composer, musician and santur player Hamid Saedi; Executive Director of Farhang Foundation Alireza Ardekani; and award-winning choreographer Melieka Fathi.
Saturday, April 10
7pm Pacific
Meet the Artists
This online edition of Meet the Artists is an expansion of a longstanding New West Symphony tradition that breaks the barrier between the stage and audience seats. Enjoy a combination of biography, artistry, and insight into an artist’s process and talent. The guests of the Meet the Artists program include percussionist Pejman Hadidi, setar virtuoso Masoud Rezaei, and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke.
Sunday, April 11
3pm Pacific
A Tour of Iran Symphony Concert
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Pejman Hadadi, tombak & daf
Masoud Rezaei, setar
Golfam Khayam – "Simorgh, Murmuration" from Seven Valleys of Love
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Overture to Die Zauberflöte ("The Magic Flute") K. 620
Behzad Ranjbaran – "III. Fragrance of Joy" from Enchanted Garden
Jean-Philippe Rameau – Suite from Zoroastre
George Frideric Handel – “Ombra mai fu” from Serses ("Xerxes"), HWV 40
Charles Gounod – Selections from Faust
Masoud Rezaei – Excerpts from Nothingness (2015 album)
A reception with Michael Christie and guest artists will follow immediately after the concert.