The Seattle Symphony has announced that it will present Music Beyond Borders: Voices From the Seven on February 8 at Benaroya Hall. The free concert will feature music drawn from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The program is being developed and will include, among others, works by Syrian-born Kinan Azmeh, Iraqi-born Rahim AlHaj, and two Iranian-born composers, Gity Razaz and Alireza Motevaseli. These composers reside in the United States except for Motevaseli, who lives in Iran. “Many of our musicians are immigrants themselves, so when they suggested we create a concert like this, we enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to bring the universal power of music to speak across boundaries and borders,” said Music Director Ludovic Morlot. President and CEO Simon Woods added, “At the Seattle Symphony, inclusivity is a core value. We feel inspired to add our voice, with the hope that we can bring our community together to celebrate the freedom of expression and open exchange of ideas which the arts have always stood for, especially in times of division and conflict.” The performance will be streamed live on the Seattle Symphony’s Facebook page.
Posted February 6, 2017
Photo of Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony by Brandon Patoc
