Nazanin Noori 'A LETTER TO EUROPE'

Fragments from *Erdverse* by the poet Forugh Farrokhzad (b. 1935 in Tehran) weave through the performance as a poetic refrain. The work combines voice, percussion, and electronics with a score by Noori in collaboration with the musician Andrea Belfi (b. 1979, Verona).

Modelled on the structure of a wedding, the performance brings together the Iranian classical singer Samin Ghorbani, two spoken-word performers (Kate Strong and Noori herself), and the two percussionists Andrea Belfi and Ludwig Wandinger. Alternating between spoken word and song, the work reflects the poems’ movement between emotional and political registers, while the percussionists establish a counter-structure of rhythm and control. The electronic score adds another layer, evoking the rigid frameworks of institutional systems.

Drawing on the myth of Europa from Greek mythology, the work translates themes such as collective coercion and contested social belonging into a staged arrangement. The mythological reference functions here as a structural parallel rather than a narrative illustration, situating Farrokhzad’s critique of Europe within a longer history of forced migration and asymmetrical power relations.

Performers:

Andrea Belfi, Kate Strong, Ludwig Wandinger, Nazanin Noori, Samin Ghorbani

English translation of Athena Farrokhzad’s poem by Jennifer Hayashida.