An unforgettable evening of music, poetry, and cultural fusion with Daftar Aval Duo, featuring acclaimed Iranian-Australian qanun player and composer Vahideh Eissaei and ARIA award-winning cellist and sound artist Zoë Barry.

First collaborating during the quiet moments of the 2020 Melbourne lockdowns, Vahideh and Zoë bring together Persian classical and folk music, original compositions, improvisation, and voice to create hypnotic, deeply emotional performances.

Vahideh Eisaei is an Iranian – Australian curator, storyteller, qanun player, and composer. Evolving into a storyteller, she blends poetry, spoken word, and music to recontruct classical poetry with contemporary nuances. Accompanied by Zoë Barry, ARIA award winning cellist, composer, sound artist, performance maker and educator, whose practice is reflective and collaborative, drawing together composition, sound design, writing and directing to create relational works that explore invisible forces, the politics of slowness, and amplifying quiet voices. Together as Daftar Aval Duo, Vahideh and Zoë will both be presenting a soul-stirring journey through sound and story.

They will also be collaborating with Silk Strings Ensemble, Nexus Arts first ever artists-in-residence, for the first time! Silk Strings embraces a multifaceted approach to their craft. They strive to preserve the timeless traditions of Huqin music, whilst infusing contemporary practises to bring this art form into the modern era. Their interdisciplinary explorations connects Huqin music with other artistic and cultural disciplines, enriching their performances and the audience’s experience.

Don’t miss Daftar Aval Duo + Silk Strings at Nexus Arts – a night of beauty, connection and sonic exploration.