BBC Symphony Orchestra Iran Week: Persepolis - Discovering the Music of Iran

The BBC Symphony Orchestra in association with the Iran Heritage Foundations and Nava Arts.

Join us in celebrating a fusion of traditional Persian and Persian inspired Western musical traditions as interpreted by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Dastan Ensemble, A Bunch of Foreigners Ensemble and students from the Rustam Iranian School. The programme includes works by renown Western and Iranian composers, newly commissioned work, newly created work resulting from the co-operation of members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Dastan Ensemble, and the results of the joint efforts of members of the Dastan Ensemble and the BBC Symphony Orchestra working with students from the Rustam Iranian School. While the main aim of the programme is to record these traditional pieces and newly created works for broadcast on Radio 3 in the Autumn of 2006 there are several performances which are open to schools and members of the public. Admission is free, but the events are ticketed due to limited seating capacities. Advance booking is essential.

(contact enquiries below for booking, admission free)
(click on 'programme' in the left column of this page for more details)

Wednesday 22 February, 19.00-21.00 (studio doors open 18.30)
Come on and play with members of the Dastan Ensemble. This session will be giving people the chance to try out Iranian percussion instruments in a fun and informal workshop. No experience whatsoever is required, but it promises to be a highly entertaining evening.

Thursday 23 February, 19.30-21.00 (studio doors open 19.00)
The Dastan Ensemble and members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra perform a fusion of music drawing from both traditional Persian and Western musical traditions.

Friday 24 February, 19.00-20.30 (studio doors open 18.30)
In this performance, when East really does meet West, Rimsky-Korsakov, Szymanowski and Aminollah Hossein's magnificent Persepolis Symphony are performed alongside funky Iranian underground music by A Bunch of Foreigner Ensemble, and traditional Persian music by the Dastan Ensemble. And if that wasn't enough, you will also have the chance to hear another world premiere: Iranian composer Amir Mayhar Tafreshipour's Harp Concerto - Persian Reflection, with soloist Sioned Williams.

(contact enquiries below for booking, admission free)
(click on 'programme' in the left column of this page for more details)

Thursday 23 February, 10.30-13.30 (studio doors open 10.00)
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and soloists perform works by Rimsky-Korsakov then Szymanowski then Rameau.

Thursday 23 February, 14.30-17.30 (studio doors open 14.00)
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and soloists perform works by Rameau, Tafreshipour and Farhat.

(click on the entries in the left column of this page for additional information on the orchestra, the ensembles and the artists)

BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Orchestra is one of the UK's leading orchestras and has a strong commitment to 20th century and contemporary music as well as the classical traditions. All concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3, giving the BBC Symphony Orchestra the highest broadcast profile of any UK orchestra. The Orchestra performs at a number of national and international music festivals and undertakes regular major overseas tours. In this programme they will perform Iranian or Iranian inspired works by contemporary and classical composers such as Hormoz Farhat (b. 1929), Aminollah Hossein (1905-1983), Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) and Amir Tafreshipour (b. 1974).

Dastan Ensemble
The Ensemble uses a repertoire of Persian classical music and takes these fundamentals of melodic, rhythmic and dynamic variation to develop new forms and combined sonorities. The ensemble's structured improvisations are performed by several of the very best of the contemporary Persian musicians. They have toured extensively in Europe and North America.

A Bunch of Foreigners
A recently formed London based group, with members who are bound together by two focal points of commonality. The love of music and their Iranian origin. Their music which is interspersed with traditional highlights, uses sound effects that remind us of Iranian miniature paintings while instruments create a playful & sometimes fearful space around them, because that's how it feels to them to live in London-zone 6.

Rustam Iranian School
The School provides Persian language courses for second generation Iranians in the UK, however after many years of devoted service the school is now a centre for educational and cultural activities for the Iranian community in the United Kingdom. Students from the school will work together with members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Dastan Ensemble to create their own interpretations of Iranian inspired music.

Free, but booking required.