“Faces of Love From Iran” Brings Persian Culture to the St. Louis Stage
November 10, 2008
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| Hossein Omoumi |
World-renowned Persian musician Hossein Omoumi made his St. Louis debut on October 25 at the Ethical Society of St. Louis when Gitana Production’s presented “Faces of Love from Iran: We are God’s Music.” Omoumi has received great acclaim for his talent in playing the ney, a traditional Persian reed flute.
“Faces of Love” is a series of events produced annually by Gitana. Each year, the series focuses on a different region of the world with the goal of increasing awareness of a culture through the arts. This year’s focus is on the Persian culture of Iran and Afghanistan.
“Omoumi grew up surrounded by the vivid Persian culture,” said Cecilia Nadal, executive producer of Gitana Productions, Inc. “To have a Master like Omoumi here brought a level of performance and authenticity from Persian culture which is unparalleded in St. Louis. We were able to share experiences with the people around their food, superb music and the poetry of Persia. We discovered each others culture right here in St. Louis”
Guests at the “Faces of Love” event enjoyed Persian cuisine provided by Café Natasha and the poetry of famed Persian poet Rumi presented by Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz, a native of Iran and the chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University.
“The response to the program was overwhelmingly positive,” said Nadal.
Audience member Dr. Bahar Bastani, President of the St. Louis Iranian Cultural Society said, “’Faces of Love from Iran’ was one of the best cultural events I have participated in in the past decade.”
“Faces of Love from Iran” will continue with an original theatrical production “My Heart Keeps Shaking” at St. Louis University from May 22 to June 9, 2009. The play will dramatize the experience of Afghan women refugees who have relocated to St. Louis, which currently is home to about 6,000 Iranians and 1,500 Afghans. The people of Afghanistan are related to many of the ethnic groups in neighboring Iran. Most Afghans are farmers, although a significant number followed a nomadic lifestyle before fleeing the country to become refugees in neighboring nations and abroad.
The Regional Arts Commission, the Missouri Arts Council, and the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis have provided funding to support the “Faces of Love From Iran and Afghanistan” events.
Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing international music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.
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Media Contact: Maggie Rhynes
Synergy Group • 7915 Big Bend Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63119
314.961.9772 • 314.961.9782 (fax)
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