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

Programme of rehearsals, performances and recordings
(not open to the public unless indicated)

Sunday 19 February (10.30-17.30)

• Dastan Ensemble plus 4/5 BBC SO players, cross-over rehearsal

Monday 20 February (10.30-17.30)

• BBC SO rehearing works by Hormoz Farhat, Aminollah Hossein and Amir Tafreshipour (10.30-13.30)
• Dastan Ensemble rehearsal (14.30-15.00)
• Development workshop led by Dastan Ensamble (15.15-17.30)

Tuesday 21 February (10.30-21.30)

• BBC SO rehearsal of Aminollah Hossein: Symphony (10.30-13.30)
• Rehearsal workshop with young musicians (Henry Cowell: Persian Set, Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade (one movement), Strauss: Persian March; Conducted by Pascal Rophé, with members of the Dastan Ensemble).To include students from Bedford Modern, Lady Margaret's School, Berkshire Young Musicians Trust, Bromley Young Musicians Trust. (14.30-17.30)
• Dastan Ensemble plus 4/5 BBC SO players, cross-over rehearsal (18.30-21.30)

Wednesday 22 February (10.30-21.30)

• Members of the BB SO and the Dastan Ensemble in local schools. Schools to include Essendine, St Josephs and Canberra Primary Schools (10.30-13.30)
• Rehearsal and recording of Aminollah Hossein's: Persepolis Symphony and Hormoz Farhat's: Hommage à Larmartine (14.30-17.30)
• Come on and play with members of the Dastan Ensemble. Open to the public (19.00-21.30)

Thursday 23 February (10.30-21.30)

• Rehearsal of works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Szymanowski and Rameau (10.30-13.30) (open to schools)
• Rehearsal of works by Rameau, Amir Tafreshipour and Hormoz Farhat (14.30-17.30) (open to schools)
• Harp and composer workshops (17.00-18.00)
• Dastan Ensemble and members of the BBC SO perform a fusion of music drawing from both traditional Persian and Western musical traditions (19.30-21.00) (open to the public)

Friday 24 February (12.30-20.30)

• General rehearsal (12.20-13.30)
• A concert with the BBC SO playing Rameau's Zoroastre Overture, the fourth movement of Rimsky Korsakov's Sheherzade, the last movement of Amir Tafreshipour's Harp Concerto with soloist Sioned Williams, one movement of Hormoz Farhat's Hommage a Lamartine and the third and 4th movement of Aminollah Hossein's Persepolis Symphony. This will be interspersed with performances of the Dastan Ensemble and students of the Rustam Iranian School (14.00-15.30)
• General rehearsal (17.30-18.30)
• A concert involving over 100 performers. In this performance, when East really does meet West, Rimsky-Korsakov, Szymanowski and Aminollah Hossein's magnificent Persepolis Symphony are performed by the BBC SO alongside funky Iranian underground music by A Bunch of Foreigner Ensemble, 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. The BBC SO will be conducted by Pascal Rophé who will be accompanied by tenor James Edwards (19.00-20.30) (open to the public)