Instrumentation: Symphony Orchestra
Duration: 3:00 min
Commissioned by: The National Ballet of Canada
Composition date: 2014
World Premiere: Saturday May 24, 2014 – P.C. Ho Theatre – Scarborough
Program Notes from the Premiere
ICOT collaborated with YOU dance (National Ballet of Canada) and Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra to compose the world premiere of new ballet work. 5 Tableaux from “Khosrow and Shirin” is a work by the ICOT.
Five Tableaux from Khosrow and Shirin captures five different scenes based on a famous Persian legend in poetry by the 12th century poet, Nezami Ganjavi (1141- 1209). Khosrow and Shirin is often called the Romeo and Juliet of Persian literature. The ballet tells the famous Persian romantic tragedy of the love of King Khosrow for his Queen Shirin and the love triangle between King Khosrow of Persia, an Armenian princess, Shirin, and a royal sculptor, Farhad.
Pouya composed one of the movements.
This movement is inspired by Farhad’s struggle to carve stairs out of the cliff rocks.
“Khosrow cannot bide Farhad, so he sends him on an exile to Behistun Mountain with the impossible task of carving stairs out of the cliff rocks. Farhad begins his task hoping that Khosrow will allow him marry Shirin.“
There is a repetitive bass-line and melody, which symbolizes Farhad’s hard work at carving the rocks. The dissonances in the music portray Farhad’s growing madness.
Live archival recording from the premiere
Photos from the premiere
