Tue, October 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
MISAGH JOOLAEE
Music for Kamancheh
Pierre Boulez Saal
Iranian kamancheh virtuoso and composer Misagh Joolaee is a familiar guest at the Pierre Boulez Saal, having performed here in a duo with oud player Bakr Khleifi and with his own trio, which recently won the German Record Critics’ Award. Now the Berlin-based artist presents his first solo program featuring his own compositions and improvisations, which effortlessly interweave elements of the classical Persian radif tradition with aspects of European Baroque music and flamenco playing techniques.
Artists
Kamancheh
EVENT TIMELINE
Six Questions for Misagh Joolaee
Not everyone in the audience may be familiar with the kamancheh. What kind of instrument is it?
The kamancheh is a traditional Persian bowed string instrument, often called the “spiked fiddle.” It has a round resonating body, a long neck, and is played with a bow that moves across the strings. Its sound is very expressive—it can be earthy and raw, but also lyrical and tender.
What makes it special to you?
For me, the kamancheh is not just an instrument, it’s a voice—a way of carrying emotions that words cannot express. It bridges tradition and improvisation, allowing me to stay rooted in Persian classical music while also exploring new musical languages.
How is the kamancheh played?
The instrument is played upright, resting on the player’s knee, with a bow held in the underhand grip. Because it has a round body, the instrument can be rotated slightly while playing, which allows the bow to reach different strings. This creates a very fluid and flexible style of playing.
Do you remember your first encounter with the kamancheh?
Yes, very vividly! I was struck immediately by its voice-like quality. It surprised me how close it felt to human singing—full of microtonal nuances, ornamentations, and emotional depth. That intimacy is what drew me in and has kept me fascinated ever since.
What kind of music will we be hearing at the Pierre Boulez Saal?
The program features my own compositions and improvisations inspired by Persian classical music, along with one folk melody from Khorasan, called Navaee. There are also influences from Western classical music, flamenco, and jazz, all creating dialogues between East and West, past and present.
Is there anything in particular you would like the audience to listen for during the performance?
I would invite everyone to listen closely to the subtle shifts—the ornaments, the spaces between the notes, the silence as much as the sound. The kamancheh speaks in a very nuanced way, and often its most powerful moments lie in its quiet, intimate expressions.
YOUR VISIT
How To Get There
Pierre Boulez Saal
Barenboim-Said Akademie
Französische Straße 33d
10117 Berlin
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Public Transport
U-Bahn U2 Hausvogteiplatz, U5 Museumsinsel, U6 Unter den Linden
S-Bahn S / U Friedrichstraße
Tram M1, 12 Mitte / Am Kupfergraben
Bus 147 Werderscher Markt; 100, 300, N5 Staatsoper
Bicycle
Bicycle racks are available on the street “Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.”
Car
Q-PARK parking garage Unter den Linden / Staatsoper
Bebelplatz 2
10117 Berlin
Theater rate (5.30 pm – 11.30 pm, paid in advance): €10
Please note there is a construction site across from the hall on Französische Straße. The street is narrowed, and cars or taxis are not allowed to stop in front of the Pierre Boulez Saal entrance.
Opening Hours
Box Office
Monday to Friday 2 pm to 6 pm
Closed on weekends and holidays
On performance days, the box office opens one hour prior to an event on weekdays and two hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Papagena Call Center
Ticket hotline +49 30 4799 7411
Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm
Sunday and public holidays 2pm to 8pm
Food & Drinks
Casalot Catering welcomes Pierre Boulez Saal visitors before and after concerts, serving a variety of dishes of Arab cuisine.
On concert nights, the bar opens one hour before the start of an event and remains open after the performance. You may also place pre-orders for intermission right at the counter.
More informantion on our catering can be found here.
Coat Check
Small bags up to a maximum size of A4 (21x30 cm) and jackets may be taken into the concert hall. Luggage, helmets, large umbrellas, and other bulky items must be stored at the coat check.
The coat check is free and located behind the staircase in the foyer, on the left-hand side.
Accessibility
To book wheelchair-accessible seating, other seats for visitors with disabilities, or companion seats, please contact us directly.
+49 30 4799 7411
tickets@boulezsaal.de
All wheelchair seats are accessible by elevator. All visitors, including patrons using a wheelchair, will enter the Pierre Boulez Saal through the main entrance. Tickets will be checked at the hall doors.
In order to make access as easy as possible, we kindly ask that you inform us of your requirements when booking your tickets.
Restrooms for visitors with disabilities are located in the basement and on the balcony level and are accessible by elevator.
Four parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available on the street Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.
