Here’s what could be as close as you get to a cathartic experience in Abu Dhabi this week: A night of live poetry and music at Cubes. Sound interesting? Read on.
Iranian American mother of two, furnished with various degrees and a PhD, Bahareh Amidi is a poet described as ‘electric’ by Abu Dhabi TV. But that’s not what she wants you to know, because to her it’s all irrelevant. She wants you to know that she’s a ‘speck of dust in the hourglass of the universe,’ and to her, you are a ray of light. So it all starts off a little Khalil Gibran-esque, but then makes a swift dive into issues as current as the Earthquake in Japan. The simplicity and minimalism of her writing makes Bahareh’s work accessible perhaps, but it also has us more literary folk wishing we could understand Farsi; for two reasons: to better appreciate her genius in her mother-tongue, and because it sounds so much cooler.
In no way is this a critique of Bahareh’s performances in English, however, and performances they are in the full sense of the word. Poets from the Middle Eastern tradition have a very animated and engaging way of showcasing their art, and this definitely translates in Bahareh’s English recitals.
To accompany Bahareh’s poetry with the sweet melancholy of the violin and viola, is Emma Stansfield, teacher and performer hailing from the UK. And bringing more music and multiculture to the mix will be South Korean soprano, So-Young Park. So-Young will perform her own interpretation of Bahareh’s poem, The Angel who Lost his Wings. She will do so in the tradition of South Korean opera, and to Steve Kim’s piano. For both Park and Stansfield, ‘words and music have the potential to take people to other worlds,’ and with Bahareh’s enlightening insights into life, the journey could very well be into our own interiority.
Now we know you shouldn’t probe and prod at artists to explain their own work, but we went ahead and asked Bahareh why she gave the recital the name that she did. ‘Cell Empty of Light can be interpreted in a few different ways,’ she said, kindly overlooking our insolence. ‘For me the first and foremost is the cell within, that has been the dark place in which I have been seeking light.’
Bahareh believes that words have helped heal her own wounds, and in this vein, she’s been reaching out to connect with the energy of her audiences, whether they are women in safe houses, or her steadily expanding niche fan-base. We’re told that her last recital at Café Arabia, gave way to much rejoicing (Bible style), as audiences revelled in her ‘colourful journeys’ and musical refrains on the flute and Arabic oud.
All this makes us feel a tad enthused about the upcoming Cell Empty of Light, and so should you be, because to top off all the positive vibes you’ll be taking away from the evening, is the knowledge that it’s for a good cause. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards aid for labourers, and facilitating repatriation for domestic workers in Abu Dhabi. Brownie points and catharsis, now there’s two fantastic incentives to part with our money.
Cell of Empty Light commences from 7pm on Monday, November 14 at Cubes, One to One Hotel. Tickets are Dhs50, and can be collected at the reception of One to One Hotel, (02 4952 000). For more information go to the Events Facebook Page: Cell Empty of Light and www.bahareh.com.
