David Dalle
Thursday April 10th, 2014 with David Dalle
Hossein Alizadeh & Pejman Hadadi; Ian Tamblyn's new album The Labrador; Serouj Kradjian's "Trobairitz Ysabella"

Today we hear a wonderful live recording with Hossein Alizadeh and Pejman Hadadi on setar and tombak respectively. These two musicians, among the greatest Iranian musicians of their generation, will be performing in Ottawa this Saturday, 8 p.m. at the University of Ottawa Alumni Theatre. More information at 613-889-4700. I saw them perform together in Ottawa in 2012, it was the most memorable concert of the year. It is a rare opportunity to hear improvised instrumental Persian music in concert, and it is just as passionate and profoundly moving as Persian vocal music, especially in the hands of these masters. It is easy to sound full of hyperbole, but it is actually a realistic view of the music, Persian classical music strives for extremes of emotional expression, it strives for a transcendent, transformative experience. It sounds like music coming from the deepest reaches of the human soul. Do not miss it! We also hear Canadian-Armenian composer Serouj Kradjian's "Trobairitz Ysabella" for soprano and orchestra. It is based on the enigmatic medieval troubador Ysabella from the 12th or 13th centuries. Little is known about her though her possible identity is associated with several different noble women in Greece or Italy. Serouj Kradjian uses the mystery surrounding her history to create a piece which explores several different traditions in several 13th century poems, in Occitane, Hebrew, Arabic, and an English translation of the only song of hers which survives. This premiere recording features the Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anne Manson.