WORLD | PERSIAN CLASSICAL

Saturday, Sep 19, 2026 • 7:30PM

“Spectacular musicianship…”

— Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times

More than eight centuries after his birth, the 13th-century Persian poet and mystic Jalāl al-Dīn Rumi continues to inspire millions around the world. Yet beyond the familiar quotations lies a profound tradition of wisdom that stretches back thousands of years. Rooted in the Persian Wisdom of Light (Hekmat-e Khosravani), Rumi distilled centuries of Iranian wisdom into a timeless expression of beauty, insight, and spiritual depth. Throughout his teachings, he speaks of the Wisdom of Light as the nourishment of the soul—a wisdom that awakens the heart, deepens our understanding of ourselves, and illuminates our relationship with the Divine. He invites us to discover that love is far more than an emotion: it is a path to self-knowledge, a force of transformation, and a gateway to the eternal.

NoorAva: The Boundless is an immersive journey into that living tradition through Persian classical music, poetry, reflection, and storytelling. Inspired by Rumi’s enduring vision, the performance explores the universal themes of love, beauty, unity, and the search for our true nature. It also celebrates the rich artistic tradition that flourished around his teachings, where music and the sacred whirling dance (Sama) became expressions of remembrance and spiritual devotion. More than a concert, The Boundless invites audiences into an experience where art becomes a doorway to contemplation and the timeless Wisdom of Light continues to illuminate hearts across cultures and generations.

Alireza Shahmohammadi (Composer, singer, classic Persian music)

Alireza Shahmohammadi is an Iranian composer, vocalist, educator, and Rumi scholar whose work is deeply grounded in the Persian classical tradition. A student of Hatam Asgari Farahani, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, and Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Shahmohammadi has released Navazheh, Sug-e-Bahar, and Majnoon, and has appeared in distinguished international performances and collaborations with artists including tabla virtuoso Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Theodore Bikel. He has been hosting the radio program Haft Khan-e Musiqi on Radio Hamrah for the past ten years. The program is dedicated to introducing and teaching Persian vocal music and the structure of traditional Iranian music.

Pejman Hadadi (Percussionists)

Pejman Hadadi is a Tehran-born Iranian percussionist renowned for innovative work in Persian rhythm, beginning tombak studies at age 10 and later expanding to the daf to develop a versatile command of Persian percussion traditions. After immigrating to the United States in 1989, Hadadi built an international career through major collaborations and touring, including joining the acclaimed Dastan Ensemble in 1995 and performing and recording widely in leading concert halls. Hadadi has also played a central role in large-scale projects like ZARBANG and cross-cultural collaborations, and is known for research-driven rhythmic exploration (including study of Indian tabla), influencing generations through signature techniques, instrument innovations, teaching, and work as a UCLA ethnomusicology lecturer. Find out more>>

Behfar Bahadoran (Tar, Setar, multi instrumentalist)

Born in Tehran in 1987, Behfar Bahadoran is a multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist rooted in Persian classical, regional, and Kurdish mystic traditions. Trained in Iranian-style violin, daf, tar, and setar, Bahadoran has studied with major masters, earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, founded Pejvâk Ensemble (2006), co-founded Sorvâd (2020), toured across North America, and performed at the Palace of Fine Arts, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, and the Freer Sackler Gallery. Find out more>>

Location

The Carriage House Theatre

15400 Montalvo Rd.

Saratoga, CA 95070

Call Us: 408-961-5858


Discover a cultural oasis in Silicon Valley’s foothills. Montalvo Arts Center spans over 100 acres of woodland trails and gardens in Saratoga, located less than 20 minutes from Los Gatos, West San Jose, Monte Sereno, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. We are a member-supported nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of all people through the arts.

We serve our community year-round through diverse programming, including summer camps, educational field trips, concerts in the Carriage House Performing Arts Series, rotating exhibitions, the prestigious Lucas Artists Residency Program, and free community festivals.

Beyond our programs, everyone is welcome to enjoy a picnic on the Great Lawn, stroll through beautiful gardens, and experience our permanent outdoor sculpture collection—all free of charge. With the support of our community, we’re making the arts accessible to all in this remarkable setting.