New Sounds of Iran

Iran is a country rich in culture and tradition, like few others from the ancient world. Yet Europe sees and hears very little of these cultural treasures. The news from Iran has instead been dominated for years by reports on its political and religious conditions. »New Sounds of Iran« plans to change all that. It´s focus is on a young generation of Iranian musicians who mix global sounds with traditional music. In the course of three double concerts, world-class artists demonstrate the diversity and variety of the Iranian musical landscape. Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, a master of the tombak (a goblet drum), shares the first evening with the London based hip hop formation Ajam. On the second evening, the singer Mamak Khadem presents trance music together with Old-Persian poetry. Pedram Derekhshani fills the second half with sounds of the santur, an Iranian hammered dulcimer. On the final evening, the ensemble of the neyanban (bagpipe) virtuoso, Saeid Shanbehzadeh, will perform on traditional Iranian instruments, followed by the Barbad Project and traditional dancer Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam. The music of each of these musicians can shine a light on this far-off country, bringing Iran ever closer to us. In colaboration with Philharmonie Köln. In cooperation with the Mojo Club and Filmfest Hamburg.