AAVAAZ (IR/BE) - Het Lied of the Phoenix

The 12th-century Iranian mystic and poet Attar Neishabouri highlighted in his masterpiece De Samenspraak van Vogels, among other things, the special life cycle of the Phoenix. When its death approaches, the legendary bird builds a pyre around itself, raises a lament about the bitter grief for death, begins to burn, and shrinks to ashes - from which the Phoenix then rises again. A metaphor for the most difficult task that awaits us as humans: the art of letting go and accepting death. De Iraanse composer and setar player Shahab Azinmehr translated this mythological story into a poignant score and enters into dialogue with musicians Nathan Daems, Seraphine Stragier, and Farnoosh Khodadadeh. Their moving Song of the Phoenix is a warm invitation to embrace the vulnerability of life and the power of transformation. To mourn and celebrate together. Met Shahab Azinmehr (setar, vocals, composition, arrangements), Nathan Daems (saxophone and vocals), Farnoosh Khodadadeh (daf and vocals), Seraphine Stragier (cello, yayli tambur, harp, vocals) Text and translations Farnoosh Khodadadeh and Josse De Pauw