WORLD | PERSIAN CLASSICAL

Saturday, Sep 19, 2026 • 7:30PM

“Spectacular musicianship…”

— Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times

The Boundless Concert takes its name from the boundless nature of the human spirit – the limitless depth of music, poetry, and wisdom to awaken, inspire, and connect us beyond language, culture, and time.

The evening is an immersive journey through the rich musical and spiritual heritage of Persia, featuring Alireza Shahmohammadi and his ensemble performing two distinct sets of Persian Classical music.

The first set explores the ancient modal traditions of Persia, drawing from a musical lineage that has been cultivated and preserved for thousands of years. These timeless melodies offer a rare glimpse into one of the world’s oldest continuous musical traditions.

The second set presents contemporary Persian classical compositions alongside timeless songs of love, longing, and devotion. Rooted in the poetry of the great Persian mystics, these works express the universal human longing for truth, beauty, and the Divine.

Interwoven throughout the evening will be brief presentations introducing NoorAva, a nonprofit cultural and arts foundation dedicated to preserving and sharing the timeless wisdom of Rumi and the Philosophy of Light (Hekmat-e Khosravani). Through music, poetry, education, and the arts, NoorAva seeks to make this profound tradition accessible to contemporary audiences while supporting the preservation and continued evolution of authentic Persian classical music.

The evening is designed not simply to entertain, but to inspire reflection, awaken a deeper appreciation for Persian culture, and create an experience where music, poetry, and wisdom become a single expression of the human spirit.

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.