Sahba Motallebi & Naghmeh Farahmand

Two remarkable rising stars of Persian classical music, among the few women performing it.

An internationally acclaimed virtuoso on the tar and setar, two related lutes at the heart of Persian classical music, Sahba Motallebi pushed back against patrimonial restrictions in her native Iran to emerge as an award winning musician; “There is no rock guitarist, no oud player, possibly no musician anywhere in the world with such subtle yet fearsome chops on a fretted instrument” (New York Music Daily). Known to masterfully weave classical Persian styling with folk and world fusion, Sahba is accompanied by Naghmeh Farahmand, one of Iran’s leading percussionists, on daf and tonbak.

17th Annual Small World Music Festival

Informed by the notion of “intersections,” the 17th annual edition of Small World Music Festival presents an eclectic mix of artists from around the globe – and around the corner. Traditional and cutting-edge forms are juxtaposed as Small World Music looks to the past and towards the future of culturally diverse music in homage to WOMAD – World of Music, Art and Dance festival. Co-produced with Harbourfront Centre and sponsored by TD Bank.

Presented in association with Link Music Lab.