Nowruz Lentefestival
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Sun 27 Mar ’2216:30Nieuwe Kerk
Homayoun Shajarian: master singer from Iran
The programme combines a wide range of music and dance performances, poetry and gastronomy. The festival starts on 22 March with a concert by Homayoun Shajarian: one of the greatest classical singers to emerge from Iran. He will give a unique one-time concert in Amare’s Concertzaal, accompanied by the Siavosh Ensemble. This evening will showcase the most beautiful Iranian classical music, and is the perfect way to get into the mood for the Nowruz Festival on Sunday 27 March.
Festival with music, dance, poetry and more!
On Sunday 27 March, Amare will celebrate Nowruz: the ancient spring feast embraced by more than three hundred million people as the start of the new year. Amare presents the most beautiful art expressions from more than ten different cultures, with the celebration of Nowruz as common denominator.
The programme features musical performances by Davlatmand Kholov from Tajikistan, an expert in the southern genre of Tajik folk music known as Falak, and by the classical Iranian singer Maryam Akhondy, known internationally as the singer of the award-winning Schäl Sick Brass Band. She will perform with the project Banu, described as a musical expedition to the various cultures of Iran.
You can also enjoy Kurdish music, performed by Koray Berat & Syavash Rastani. This Cologne-based duo plays own compositions, improvisations and classical Ottoman, Anatolian and Iranian folk music.
And we have the hugely popular Afghan pop singer Saiid Sayad and his band! With famous hits like Dokhtarak haa, Qarsak and Pekai Siah, this concert promises to be a real party.
Other disciplines represented at the Nowruz Spring Festival are Kurdish dance by Govenda Nargizen Ciya, alternated with poetry declamations by the likes of Shakila Azizzada, Shanzoda Samarqandi, James-Joyce translator Kawa Nemir, Baban Kirkuki, Rodaan Al Galidi and Ofran Badakshani. This year, all declamations will be accompanied by music played by Marjatta Fehres on harp and Ghaeth Almaghoot on clarinet.
Programme overview
About Nowruz
Nowruz is originally a feast celebrated by Median and Persian peoples. Each culture has its own traditions and rituals. The Hague is celebrating Nowruz with a multidisciplinary festival comprising music, dance, poetry and gastronomy, inviting everyone to get a taste of the different cultural backgrounds. Celebrated from Afghanistan and Iran to the Balkan countries, the feast has a long history and has been recognised by UNESCO as a celebration promoting peace and solidarity. As such, the feast dovetails perfectly with core values of the city of The Hague.
The Nowruz Spring Festival is an initiative by Balout Khazraei and Shervin Nekuee. These socially engaged Hague residents are permanently dedicated to enhancing the city’s cultural wealth.