Striking a resilient harmony between Sufi musical performance and contemporary poetry, Bachar Zarkan returns to London to present ‘Messages from Abu Nawas’.

Bachar Zarkan newest project Messages from Abu Nawas is a unique musical journey through Sufism that explores the concept of ‘self’ and ‘other’ throughout time.

For this July date, Zarkan performs songs written by contemporary poets, while also paying homage to the divine poetry of the Sufi mystics and thinkers such as Abu Nuwas, Al Hallaj and Suhrawardi. Pushing the boundaries of traditional Sufi music, he creates a new genre of spiritual and poetic interpretation, highlighting new levels of Sufism that enlighten the noblest feelings of love and rebellion.

Further testimony to Zarkan’s astonishing musical agility, the works are presented and based on the inner musicality of their text, the inherent ‘poetic word’ decides the rhythmic structure of the works, and through it, ingeniously couples authentic Arabic modes alongside contemporary Arabic music.

Presented by MARSM.