This Friday night, Iranian composer Hafez Nazeri, will be presenting the World premiere of his "Rumi Symphony Project", at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, celebrating the 800th birthday of the Persian poet and mystic. Hafez Nazari's composition is a seven piece ensemble in which it combines Western instrumentation (violas and cellos) with Iranian setar, daf and Indian percussion. Hafez Nazeri is the son of the vocalist of Shahram Nazeri.

"My father was the first Iranian singer to set Rumi's poetry to music, 35 years ago," Nazeri says. "And I grew up studying, learning so many things about Rumi's life. We've tried to portray Rumi's philosophy of life, the message of love, the message of peace."

Source: LA Times