What's On

Persia After Hours: An Evening of Poetry, Dance and Ancient Persian Melodies

GETTY VILLA

The Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater

This is a past event

Persia After Hours is an evening series of musicians, DJs, dancers, visual artists, and more, who are inspired by Iran’s rich culture and history. In July, enjoy traditional Iranian music performed by master guitar player Hamed Poursaee and a calligraphy demonstration by Mohtadi Mirak, while Sholeh Wolpé & André Megerdichian present dance and music set to the poetry of 12th-century Sufi mystic Attar. Mehrdad Arabifard & His Ensemble end the evening with a performance titled “Music of the Mystics: Ancient Melodies of Iran.”

SCHEDULE

Musical Performance
6:00 pm–7:45 pm

Enjoy a repertoire of classical and traditional Persian music by master guitar player Hamed Poursaee in the tranquil setting of the Villa’s Inner Peristyle Garden.


Calligraphy Presentation
6:00 pm in the Outer Peristyle

Watch artist Mohtadi Mirak transform a blank canvas into a work of art using the words of ancient Persian poets and traditional calligraphy techniques. Guests are encouraged to observe, ask questions, and interact with Mohtadi as he works. At 7:30 pm, gather to hear him say a few words about what he has created.


Resonance Collective Presents:
An Evening of Intimate Poetry, Dance, and Music
Sholeh Wolpé & André Megerdichian
8:00 pm–8:20 pm

Award-winning Iranian American poet, playwright, and librettist Sholeh Wolpé and Armenian American choreographer André Megerdichian present dance and music, set to the poetry of 12th-century Sufi mystic Attar. This mystical journey is inspired by the exhibition Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World and feature poems drawn from Wolpé’s translation of Attar’s The Conference of the Birds.

Featuring:
Sholeh Wolpé, poetry performance
André Megerdichian, choreographer/director
Fahad Megerdichian, composer
Tippy Dringman, dance
Catalina Jackson-Urueña, dance
Kirk Averitt, vocals
Joslyn Sarshad, vocals
Molly Pease, vocals
Kion Heidari, vocals
Nathalie Karagiannis, screen art
Jesse Gilbert, projection design


Music of the Mystics: Ancient Melodies of Iran
Mehrdad Arabifard & His Ensemble
8:20 pm–9:00 pm

An evening of the traditional music of Persia, exploring mystical and contemplative melodies from its turbulent history.

Multi-instrumentalist maestro Mehrdad Arabifard, with over 30 years of performances on international stages, directs an evening of traditional music of Iran—melodies that have been handed down through the generations by the masters to the students (known as the radif). This poetically mesmeric experience is inspired by Rudaki, one of the earliest Persian poets, as well as singers and musicians of the Samanid Empire.

Featuring:
Khosro Ansari, vocals
Shayandokht Abedinimanesh, vocals
Naghmeh Sarang, kamancheh
Mani Bolouri, ghaychak
Aidin Okhovat, tar
Mehrdad Arabifard, tombak/daf
Jesse Gilbert, projection design