The New West Symphony and Artistic and Music Director Michael Christie will continue their 2020-21 groundbreaking and reimagined season of “Global Sounds, Local Cultures” with A Tour of Iran.

The upcoming concert slated for April 11 will explore centuries-old traditions of Iranian poetic and musical cultural influences on the western world. The concert will feature Sasha Cooke and Iranian instrumentalists Pejman Hadadi (tombak and daf) and Masoud Rezaei (setar).

Christie will lead the soloists and orchestra in music by Handel, Rameau, Gounod, and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Music by Iranian composers Behzad Ranjbaran, Masoud Rezaei, and Golfam Khayam will also be performed.

Along with the symphony concert, Season and Concert Passport holders will be able to enjoy access to companion cultural festival programs for further immersion into the music, the artistry, and the culture that inspired the concert.

On April 8, audiences will be able to see a Pre-Concert Talk from UCLA Senior Lecturer with David Ravetch who explores the music presented in the A Tour of Iran concert. On April 9 there will a Culture Insights presentation which will offer insights into Southern California’s Iranian culture. Finally, on April 10, audiences will get a chance to Meet the Artists. The conversation will feature soloists Hadidi, Rezaei, and Cooke.

Meanwhile, Christie will be available to answer questions in the live chat during each program.