Sima

If you have not heard Reza Vali this is your chance to catch him in L.A. Vali is an Iranian composer who combines Persian and western classical traditions in his music. This is the kind of good stuff that makes you sit up and take notice. It opens the eye of your ear, so to speak. I wouldn't miss it if I were you and in the area. It puts traditional Iranian music on a whole new map. For more on Reza Vali check this out:

//iranian.com/Music/2007/January/Vali110/index.html

"Toward that Endless Plain: Concerto for Ney and Orchestra" will be performed by the Los Angles Chamber Orchestra, with Jeffrey Kahane conducting and Persian Ney master Khosrow Soltani on Ney. The piece is dedicated to the memory of Soltani's wife, Farzaneh Navai, who passed away in 2004.

The Ney characterizes the "seeker" (saalek or raahro) and the orchestra the environment of the seeker (vaadi). The musical material of the composition is entirely derived from Persian traditional music and relates to the Persian modal system, the Dastgah. It is inspired by a poem of contemporary Iranian poet, Sohrab Sepehri:

I must depart tonight.

Taking a suitcase

the size of my loneliness,

I must go

where the mythical trees are in sight.

Toward that endless plain

that always

is calling me to itself.

For ticket information contact Lost Angeles Chamber Orchestra:

(213) 622-7001

www.laco.org/performances

tickets@laco.org

Saturday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m.

Alex Theatre in Glendale

216 North Brand Boulevard

Sunday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

Royce Hall, Westwood

Royce Dr. & Sunset Blvd