The Oud meets Cuneiform - Christmas flavours from Syria and Baghdad

Rihab Azar

Syrian oud player and composer, Rihab Azar, a graduate of the conservatoire of Damascus, was the first woman oudist to perform accompanied by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music. She is a Chevening scholar, has an MA in Music Education and was the Wigmore Hall’s Trainee Music Leader for 2022-2023.

Alongside a repertoire of classical and traditional oud music, Rihab's own compositions present the oud in a fresh, playful, curious way whilst still preserving the core sound characteristics of the instrument. She will be playing both classical oud music and some of her own compositons on the 1st.

Go here to hear Rihab playing .

Khulood da'mi

Although Iraqi artist Khulood da'mi has lived in England for over 30 years her work is still very much centred in her home city of Baghdad. Working in print, paint, wood, perspex,  textiles and  ceramic she fuses the key features of Islamic art and the distinctive characteristics of Arab culture in a unique contemporary form.

She will be showing some of her work on the 1st and 2nd of December at 33 Hampstead Lane. She will also be selling smaller pieces - scarves, T-shirts, small cunieform tablets and prints - all of which would make exciting and unusual Christmas gifts.

For more on Khulood and to see examples of her work check in to her site here.

Tickets - £15 to include wine, soft drinks and Syrian and Iraqi snacks.

THE ARTISTS:

Rihab Azar

Rihab Azar is a Syrian/British oud player, composer and music facilitator, graduate of the conservatoire of Damascus and the first woman oudist to perform accompanied by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music (2014).

Recognised by Arts Council England as a musician with Exceptional Promise (2016). MA in Music Education, UCL (2018) and a Chevening scholar (2015). Rihab was Wigmore Hall’s Trainee Music Leader for 2022-23. Her playing was described as “infinitely tender and haunting”- The Arts Desk and her appearance in ENF2021 was described as a “Highlight” - The Guardian.

Strongly influenced by Middle-Eastern music, as well as frequently collaborating with musicians, ensembles and orchestras with different genre focuses, Rihab has played and written music for projects involving storytelling, visual arts, film, TV programmes, radio and theatre plays.

Khulood d'Ami

'My work is a dialogue between cultures and faiths. embracing the pluralism and diversity of the Arab and Islamic worlds. Born and raised in Iraq, Islam was a trans-formative influence on my art whilst Baghdad's multi-cultural demographic also helped to form my artistic identity by absorbing the many theistic and ethnic voices that surrounded me. 

I seek to create a harmonious fusion between these various influences, deploying particular elements of Islamic art and Arab culture in a contemporary form. I strive to illustrate the often subtle similarities that bind our faiths and cultures together, adapting the symbolic language of calligraphy.

I believe that art is a profound way to embrace diversity and plurality, reflecting the core tenets of my work. Harmonious coexistence of diverse artistic practices can make huge strides in bringing down barriers and reaching out.'