Review: THE DANCE OF THE SUN, THE WIND AND THE DUST PART.1 : ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS at Qatar Exhibition And Convention Center

Behzad Ranjbaran was born and raised in Tehran, Iraq. When he was only nine years old, he entered the Tehran Conservatory and continued his education at Indiana University on composition. As the cherry on the top; he obtained Doctoral Academic Degree on Music from one of the best music schools on Earth, Juilliard. Notwithstanding, Mr. Ranjbaran is a faculty member at Juilliard since 1991 and an international treasure for the Classical Music world whom compositions have been performed all over the world, especially on the aspects of Neo-Romantic movement

"...the soul's longing for a meaning and content in life"

The Concerto for Flute and Orchestra was originally composed for the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is the third Orchestra to ever perform the piece. The piece was composed around the melancholic voice of Ney (the Persian Bamboo Flute). As per the details in the Turkish culture and language which was explained within the D?w?n Lugh?t al-Turk written by Mahmud al-Kashgari; Ney was originally used at the ceremonies called Sagu which was held to honour the death, virtue and the bitterness of soldiers. Considering the fact; the melancholic voice of Ney, carries out teardrops from thousands of years ago. Therefore, the Concerto for Flute and Orchestra can be simplified by being called as a tycoon of history and being performed in Qatar is a salute to voices coming from the desert.

Any artistic piece that was every created would be left aimless and dull without a channel and the observer; like a flow going through from groundwater to ocean. From the creator to observer; not a tiny area that clogged goes unnoticed. Hereby, the channel shall be crystal clear on their absorption of the artistic piece and the way re-create and deliver it.

The eye-brightening soloist Aleksandr Haskin has accomplished the grand mission with flying colours. Haskin was hailed by the Washington Post as "A musician of exceptional power and dramatic skill, completely in charge of his instrument." The statement has the technical explanation of Haskin's artistic features, although misses the elephant in the room; Haskin, as an artist, combines his instincts with his partner, the flute. His breath gives life to the instrument. They swing and sway with the tempo of a heartbeat. Haskin is not only a respectful performer but a soulful artist who has the capability to observe, understand and create.

Consequently, when Haskin's artistic attributes and one of the World's best Orchestra combines with the Ranjbaran's mosaic of eastern-western, mournful and triumphed composition under the guidance of unexplainably talented Hermes Helfricht -whom will be discussed on next article- the night was nothing but astonishing. The night has the essence of magical Arabic world, which was like a small tour to the One-thousand and one night.

By the good fortune, we had a chance to have a little chat with remarkable Aleksandr Haskin;

OAK: First of all; hello, how are you?

AH: Hello, excited.

OAK: For how long are you a part of the internationally established Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra?

AH: Since the very, very beginning which is almost ten years.

OAK: What were you doing before Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra?

AH: All my life I have studied and also worked. I am originally from Belarus and completed my bachelor degree over there. Followed by the master degree at Moscow Conservatory. In the meantime, I got accepted to Yale University at United States and I studied on both places at the same time. Afterwards I moved back to Moscow for my doctor's degree and I got job at Bolshoi Theatre. Then I became a part of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

OAK: What can be pointed out as the difference between performing in Qatar and rest of the places you have performed before?

AH: In fact, it is already getting quite singular. Also people are getting experienced on classical music. For example; people used to clap in between the movements and they already don't and it shows the progress. This is really happening, thankfully. We cherish our audience who are loyal to us over the years. Also, we are delighted that have more Qatari people attending the concerts. Like ten years ago, there was only a person barely attending. However, nowadays it changes between ten to twenty people. Hopefully, in next ten years we will have a lot more Qatari people attending.

OAK: As the next question; what lies in your future plans?

AH: Of course, I love the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra; it is like a home to me. When you are in a place for ten years; you got used to with everything. This is for sure, I'd like to have more solo concerts as I used to do before. Like I did before I work at Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra; I won an extremely important competition at New York City and had the management for three years, played in best concert halls in the World as well as in United States.

OAK: Congratulations on your accomplishments. Is there anything else you wish to add?

AH: I'd like to mention the piece I will be performing tonight. The piece is actually composed by an Iranian-American composer who is originally from Tehran. Then he moved to the United States and he is a professor at Juilliard School in New York. He is climbing the ladders of success and being well-known. There is a new piece composed by him which will be premiered next week in Carnegie Hall. That's the reason why he couldn't attend tonight's concert, since he is preparing for the concert where will be like three-hundred people. Tonight it will be the third premiere of the concerto. First one was at Philadelphia Orchestra performed by the principal flutist, then it was record by the Metropolitan National Symphony and I the third person to perform.

OAK: Thank you very much for your time, break a leg.

AH: Thank you. Have a lovely evening.

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