AAVAAZ . Het Lied of the Phoenix | Midsummer in the Abbey 2026

Het Lied of the Phoenix is inspired by a beautiful poem by Attar Neishabouri , a 12th-century Iranian mystic and poet. In this work, Attar describes the life cycle of the Phoenix and reveals a deeper truth: even for this legendary bird, life is finite. The greatest life task, he teaches us, is letting go and accepting death. This ancient wisdom formed the basis for the haunting compositions of Shahab Azinmehr . Inspired by the symbolic life cycle of the Phoenix, he wrote music that touches, moves, and lingers for a long time. Together with Nathan Daems, Seraphine Stragier, and Farnoosh Khodadadeh — together the ensemble AAVAAZ — he brings Het Lied of the Phoenix to life. In song and sound, life and death are intertwined. The concert invites us to mourn and celebrate together, in a movement that embraces both the vulnerability of existence and the power of renewal. The result is an immersive musical experience that will deeply touch the audience and linger for a long time. The music was recently recorded. An album release tour is planned for 2026–2027 , with the avant-première in the Sint-Baafsabdij on June 20 in Ghent . Shahab Azinmehr: setar, vocals, composition & arrangements Nathan Daems: saxophone & vocals Farnoosh Khodadadeh: daf & vocals Seraphine Stragier: cello, yayli tambur, harp & vocals Farnoosh Khodadadeh & Josse De Pauw: text & translations Co-org. De Centrale & Buren van de Abdij