The World Music Institute Presents EMIL ZRIHAN, 1/17

By: BWW News Desk Dec. 18, 2014

The World Music Institute continues its Around the World, Around the Cityseries with vocalist Emil Zrihan on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. atPeter Norton Symphony Space.

The power and range of Zrihan's countertenor have earned him renown as "the voice of the mockingbird." Born in Rabat, Morocco, he is now cantor at the main synagogue in Israel's Ashkelon, one of the oldest cities in the world, situated along the Via Maris which joins Egypt and Syria. Zrihan keeps the Judeo-Andalusian and folk traditions of his mother country Morocco alive in his heart, expressing both the emotional intensity of North African religious songs and the vivacity of Andalusian music.

His fascinating 'mawals' (improvisations), in which he demonstrates the effortless elasticity of his vocal prowess, are subtly enhanced by oud, violin, accordion and darbuka. The upbeat rhythmic tempo with its Mediterranean flavour alternates with passages imbued with the languor of the Orient, a mix which evokes the family gatherings, songs and dances of the Sephardic culture.

With a repertoire that spans his ancestors' Spanish roots, the North African secular music of his youth and Jewish liturgical song, Zrihan, as the Chicago Tribune writes, is "one of the world's towering vocalists."

Tickets for all World Music Institute events are available for purchase online at www.worldmusicinstitute.org, by calling (212) 545-7536, or in person at the WMI Box Office at 101 Lafayette Street, #801.

Student and group discounts are available, as are VIP tickets for select events. Discounts are also available for WMI Friends with memberships starting at $70. WMI Friends enjoy priority seating throughout the season.

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The World Music Institute Presents EMIL ZRIHAN, 1/17

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