Bach and Khayyam

Date: Friday, October 13, 2023, 8:30 pm
Price: $40 Regular | $30 Friends | $36 Students and Seniors
This performance is part of the Constantinople 2023/2024 season.
Enjoy all three performances and save by purchasing a package.

Imagine the unlikely meeting of two extraordinary men whose visions were characterized by the depth of their spirituality: the Persian poet and scholar Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) and the composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).

In this performance of sonic wonder, Constantinople performs arrangements of some of the most exquisite and spiritual songs and arias of Johann Sebastian Bach in a dialogue with the poems of Omar Khayyam. Constantinople will present these songs in Persian in response to Bach's arias by soprano Hana Blažíková, one of the most splendid interpreters of Bach's music.

Performers include:

Kiya Tabassian | Setar and Artistic Director
Hana Blažíková | Voice
Didem Başar | Kanun
Patrick Graham | Percussion
Tanya Laperrière | Baroque Violin and Viola D’amore
Neva Özgen | Kamancheh
Johanna Rose | Viola Da Gamba
Michel Angers | Theorbo and Baroque Guitar
Tineke Steenbrink | Organ

Constantinople 2023/2024 Season Package

Purchase a package

Explore the season:

April 19, 2024 | Across the Andes
May 29, 30, and 31, 2024 | Songs of Hope

About Constantinople

Constantinople is a musical ensemble that chose the journey — geographical, but also historical, cultural, and inner —as its cornerstone. It draws inspiration from many sources and aims for distant horizons. Inspired by the ancient city illuminating the East and West, Constantinople was founded in 2001 in Montreal by Kiya Tabassian.

About Kiya Tabassian

Setar virtuoso and acclaimed composer Kiya Tabassian has carved out a privileged place on the international music scene with his ensemble Constantinople and as a soloist. Past master in cross-cultural musical encounters, Tabassian travels across the five continents to present his creations and his music on stages worldwide.

About Hana Blažíková

Hana Blažíková has achieved high acclaim as a leading specialist in the interpretation of baroque, renaissance, and medieval music, performing with ensembles and orchestras around the world, including the Collegium Vocale Gent, Bach Collegium Japan, Sette Voci, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, L’Arpeggiata, Gli Angeli Geneve and La Fenice.

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The Museum’s Performing Arts programming is generously supported by the Nanji Family Foundation.