Heart of Afghanistan performed by the Fanoos Ensemble

Wednesday, March 13, 8 p.m.

---

 

Asian and Asian American Arts and Culture Program

Note: To make this event more accessible to patrons observing Ramadan, we have arranged catering for a halal iftar menu and set aside space adjacent to the performance venue for prayer. We will offer dates and water and a menu featuring kebabs free of charge to all ticket holders. The performance has a run time of 75 to 90 minutes. It will be followed by a brief Q&A session with the musicians. In order to maintain our original end time for the evening, we have elminated intermission in favor of the pre-event meal. We invite all patrons to join us for the dinner. And we hope these changes allow those observing Ramadan to have a more enjoyable experience in our venue.

The Heart of Afghanistan features four brilliant Afghan musicians: famed singer and Afghan TV star Ahmad Fanoos on vocals and harmonium, his sons Elham Fanoos on piano and Mehran Fanoos on violin, and Sohail Karimi on tabla. Though they are unable to perform inside Afghanistan, where the Taliban has banned all music, these musicians carry the flame of their homeland’s rich and complex musical heritage, from its pre-Islamic Buddhist period to the modern era. Included in the program will be traditional ghazals based on the Sufi-inspired poetry of Rumi (who was born in Afghanistan), Afghan folk music, and the iconic hits of legendary singer Ahmad Zahir, first recorded in the 1960s and ’70s and still wildly popular today. Only recently reunited in the United States, the ensemble offers a 360-degree view of Afghan culture through music and cultural heritage.