Toronto, January 11, 2017 — Paying homage to the contemporary and classical arts of Syria and Iran, the Aga Khan Museum’s Winter 2017 Performing Arts season will showcase some of the best talent from these culturally diverse countries.
Continuing the Museum’s spotlight on Syria with the critically-acclaimed exhibition Syria: A Living History and a partnership with the Syrian Film Festival that began in 2016, the 2017 Performing Arts season kicks off with screenings of two award-winning documentary films — A Syrian Love Story (2015), which is both an intimate love story and a portrait of a troubled country, and On the Bride’s Side (2016), which details the incredible journey of a fake wedding party made of refugees, as they make their way from Milan to Stockholm.
The season then shifts its focus to the rhythms, poetry, and melodies of Iran, with a dazzling roster of programming created to integrate with the Museum’s newest exhibition, Rebel, Jester, Mystic, Poet: Contemporary Persians. This thematic focus on Iran also provides the Museum with the opportunity to partner with Tirgan Iranian Festival for a series of performances at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, including a concert with Mohsen Namjoo, who has been dubbed “Iran’s Bob Dylan” by The New York Times.
Winter 2017 season highlights include:
- Mwashahat and Qudood by the Canadian Arabic Orchestra and the Canadian Arabic Choir (January 28): An orchestral and choral performance, which blends classical music from Spain and Syria.
- Father and Son: Duelling Pianos (February 11): A musical journey through masterful renditions honouring jazz, classical, calypso, and reggae traditions featuring father-son duo Eddie and Quincy Bullen.
- 100 Years of Iranian Piano Music (February 25): Featuring classical pianist Layla Ramezan, with a special santur performance by Sina Bathaie.
- Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic (March 10–12): A cinematic shadow puppet play, based on the Persian epic Shanameh live at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
For full details about exhibitions and programming, please visit agakhanmuseum.org
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