TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
PRESENTS
AN EVENING OF NEW AND TRADITIONAL
MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC

RAHIM ALHAJ, OUD
ISSA MALLUF, PERCUSSION
WITH BEREKET (UT MIDDLE EASTERN ENSEMBLE)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012, 8:00 P.M.
AT BATES RECITAL HALL

Presented in partnership with the Butler School of Music and the Austin Classical Guitar Society

“A unique combination of traditional and innovative performance techniques. AlHaj’s spontaneous inventions are constantly fascinating.” – Los Angeles Times

Composer and virtuoso of the Iraqi oud (the grandfather of all stringed instruments), Rahim AlHaj and percussion prodigy Issa Malluf join The University of Texas Middle Eastern Ensemble, Bereket, for an evening of new and traditional Middle Eastern music, Saturday, October 27 at Bates Recital Hall.

Called “one of the top oud players in the world” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rahim AlHaj’s music delicately combines traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary styling and influence. His compositions evoke the experience of exile from his homeland and of new beginnings in his adopted country of the U.S. His pieces establish new concepts without altering the foundation of the traditional “Iraqi School of Oud.”

Rahim AlHaj, a two-time Grammy nominee, has performed and recorded with master musicians from around the globe including Bill Frisell and R.E.M., and performed as part of the Cultural Olympiad at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Issa Malluf is an Albuquerque born world-class prodigy, whose drum genius has blossomed from his teenage years into international tours with the best drummers in the world. Besides performing with AlHaj, Issa has also toured with tabla master Zakir Hussain and fronts his own band called Banu Noor.

Under the direction of Sonia Seeman, The University of Texas Middle Eastern Ensemble, Bereket consists of University students, faculty, staff, and community members. Named after a word that translates as “abundance,” “fruitfulness,” and “divine gift,” Bereket creates a sense of community around musical performance.

For more information, please visit texasperformingarts.org/season/rahim-alhaj-bereket-austin.

CALENDAR LISTING
Saturday, October 27, 2012, 8:00 pm –Texas Performing Arts presents Rahim AlHaj with Bereket at Bates Recital Hall (2420 Robert Dedman Dr). A map of the campus: texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions. Tickets ($32 / Limited $10 student tickets / discounted tickets available for UT faculty & staff, seniors and Military) are on sale now at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew; 512.471.0632;
gbartholomew@TexasPerformingArts.org