Tribute to female courage and strength
Iranian singer Mojgan Shajarian comes to the Netherlands for a unique collaboration with the 42-member Noordpool Orchestra and four soloists. Together they celebrate female courage and strength in Gordafarid in a compelling musical journey through East and West. Gordafarid is inspired by stories from the famous Shahnameh (“Book of Kings”) by Iranian 11th century poet Ferdowsi. The Shahnameh tells a powerful and timeless story about the resilience of women, heroines like Gordafarid both past and present.
Mojgan, with the Noordpool Orchestra and cellist Maya Fridman, performs a unique blend of Eastern and Western music. The eclectic compositions of Farid Sheek, Hamid Sheikhbahaei and Reinout Douma are at the heart of this extraordinary musical narrative. Gordafarid is an inspiring experience, full of music and stories that highlight the power of women.
This unique collaboration is made possible in part by Culture Unlimited.
Credits
Music | North Pole Orchestra
Voice | Mojgan Shajarian
Soloists | Maya Fridman, Farid Sheek, Hossein Behroozinia, Hamid Sheikhbahaei
Composition | Farid Sheek, Hamid Sheikhbahaei, Reinout Douma
About Mojgan Shajarian
Mojgan Shajarian is a well-known Iranian singer and musician. Shajarian has been living and working in California since 2012, where she teaches classical Persian singing (Awaz) and Setar – a traditional Persian (pear-shaped) string instrument. She is regularly featured at festivals and concert halls around the world.
About Noordpool Orchestra
“Anything but classical.” With that mission, the Nordpool Orchestra from the Northern Netherlands has distinguished itself as an innovative specialist in 21st-century music since its founding in 2009. Think contemporary pop music, electronica and improvisation with modern jazz and non-Western music. Although this “very big band” led by composer Reinout Douma is the only freelance project orchestra of its size, it has a permanent core group of Northern musicians who have been part of the orchestra for more than a decade.
In its relatively short existence, the Noordpool Orchestra managed to reach many concert halls, theaters and festivals throughout the Netherlands. Festivals in its “own Groningen” like Jazz te Gast, Grasnapolsky and Noorderzon, as well as major festivals like North Sea Jazz and Pinkpop. Through the Northern hinterland, the orchestra seeks collaborations with Northern artists, stories and locations, such as Thomas Azier, work by Vasalis with Janne Schra or film music in The WAD (2020). International successes include the much-listened-to orchestral album with music by Radiohead and a collaboration with Thijs de Vlieger of Noisia. The Noordpool Orchestra shakes itself loose from the symphonic tradition and breaks through national borders.