The Iranian Hossein Alizadeh (Teheran, 1950) is a leading figure in Persian music, with an impressive worldwide performance record. His technique on the Persian long-necked lute (tar) is best compared to that of flamenco guitarists.

Alizadeh is classically trained in the forms of traditional Persian music, studying with Persian masters the likes of Ali Akbar Shahnazi, Mahmood Karimi and Saied Hormozi. Alizadeh later recorded the entire works for tar and setar based on the interpretation of Mirza Abdullah. Hossein Alizadeh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Composing and Performing from the University of Teheran and went on to study Composition and Musicology at Berlin University. He also taught at the University of Teheran and the Teheran Music Conservatory.

Alizadeh’s solo career took him all over the world. He worked as an artistic leader, conductor and soloist with the Iranian National Orchestra, founded the widely acclaimed Aref Ensemble and performed with the Shayda Ensemble. In Europe, his first professional experience was with the renowned Bejart Ballet Company’s orchestra in a performance of Maurice Bejart’s ballet Gulistan.

As a composer, Alizadeh’s best-known work includes ‘The Nava Improvisations’ (1976), ‘Dream’ (1986), ‘Delshodegan’ (1987), ‘Under the Razor’ (2007) and ‘Ode to Flowers’ (2007). His record ‘Endless Vision’ was nominated for a Grammy in 2006.

Hossein Alizadeh is part of the full evening programme “Unheard of” (‘Ongehoord’ in Dutch) which takes place at De Nieuwe Kerk (one of our festival locations). You need a festival day ticket (or passe-partout)  to have access to this programme. You can exchange your ticket for a festival wristband at the central festival entrance at Theater aan het Spui.