The Radīf (meaning sequence or order) is the repertoire of classical Persian music and was added to UNESCO's list of immaterial cultural heritage in 2009. This collection of melodies, divided into twelve modular systems – the Dastgāhs and Avâz’ – has been passed down orally for thousands of years.

Elshan Ghasimi (born in 1981 in Isfahan, Iran) is not only a virtuoso on the Persian long-necked lute tar and setar and a master of classical Persian art music, but also a composer, performance artist, and educator. She works at the intersection of tradition and modernity, West and East, music and other art forms. Language, music, physicality, and dramatic expression as part of a cultural whole form the basis of her work. Her musical training began at the age of nine, and she later studied at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. At the age of 17, she became the youngest member of the Iranian National Orchestra. She has been living in Germany since 2016, where she performs as a soloist, composes, and plays with renowned ensembles such as Concerto Köln. Her work combines Persian musical heritage with various musical genres, including contemporary classical music, jazz, experimental music, and early music.

In fall 2022, Elshan Ghasimi premiered the first chapter of her reinterpretation of Mirza Abdollah's Radīf with Dastgāh-e Shur at the Bode Museum in Berlin. She is thus the first female musician to devote herself to the systematic renewal of this classical tradition.

We are delighted to present this extraordinary concert to kick off the new IBZ event year!

„In her playing […] every phrase is invested with deep thought and grave authority“ – Michael Church, Musics Lost and Found (2021)

https://elshanghasimi.com