WHEN:
October 27, 2024
WHERE:
Benaroya Hall (200 University Street)
Seattle, Washington
A spokesperson describes the event as follows:
“...The Seattle debut of recent Emmy® nominee Milad Yousufi, a gifted young Afghan composer whose life inspired an episode of Apple TV’s Little America, will be the centerpiece of MOR’s season opener. After witnessing the arts flourish in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s rule, Yousufi felt called to make a difference in the future of music and culture in his home country. Yousufi is also a visual artist; his poetry, painting, and Persian calligraphy helped informImaginary Peace and I cried, which use Bhairavi, a Phrygian mode common to Afghanistan, and other melodies to convey a sense of sorrow and longing for home.
“In my work, I aim to create a meaningful dialogue that highlights the vibrancy of my culture while countering misconceptions,” said Yousufi. “This is an investment in the artistic heritage of Afghanistan, and I believe that a legacy can be forged here in the United States for future Afghan artists to draw upon. This vital connection will allow for a more profound recognition of the shared human experience, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.”
Sándor Kuti was also a young composer on the rise in his era; but in 1945, he was murdered in a Nazi concentration camp. Nearly eight decades later, Kuti’s String Quartet No. 2 will finally receive its U.S. premiere. Audiences will also hear Mary Kouyoumdjian’s Groung, inspired by an Armenian soprano who carried the burden of her homeland’s destruction, and Simon Sargon’s musical setting of Primo Levi’s haunting literary witness to the Holocaust, depicting the battle to preserve human identity despite obliterating odds….”
