Beyond the orange groves

BEYOND THE ORANGE GROVES
– a concert for tombak, oud, kamancheh and dayere –

June 19, 2026
venue: exploratorium berlin, Zossenerstr. 24, 10961 Berlin
€25 Euro, reduced €20

“Beyond the Orange Groves” is a concert program exploring memory, resistance, and social transformation within the Iranian cultural context. At its core are musical settings of poems by Aref Ghazvini and Malek Shoara Bahar—key figures of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, considered a bridge between classical Persian literature and modern expression.

Their works address themes of national identity, social awakening, and the consequences of political upheaval. More than a century later, these themes remain strikingly relevant and resonate strongly with contemporary global realities.

Between the vocal pieces, the program unfolds through instrumental solos, duos, and trios, creating space for improvisation, dialogue, and virtuosity. The repertoire combines elements of Iranian classical music with contemporary artistic approaches.

Line-up
Pedram Khavarzamini – tombak
Fatemeh Dehghani – oud, vocals
Sara Hasti – kamancheh
Roshanak Rafani – dayere, bendir

The ensemble brings together internationally active musicians, creating a dynamic artistic dialogue between tradition and contemporary expression.

About the artists
Pedram Khavarzamini
Few musicians play the tombak in this way: Pedram Khavarzamini (b. 1975, Tehran) is an internationally renowned tombak player who combines traditional Iranian rhythms with contemporary approaches. He studied with Kamyar Mohabbat and Bahman Rajabi and began his career performing in duo with Rajabi. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with artists such as Kayhan Kalhor, Ross Daly, and Ballaké Sissoko, and has been a member of various ensembles as well as the Labyrinth musical community. He regularly gives workshops and seminars worldwide, including at the University of Toronto and in Lausanne. His work expands the sonic possibilities of the tombak across diverse musical contexts.

Roshanak Rafani
Roshanak Rafani studied instrumental performance (percussion) at the Barenboim-Said Academy and specializes in Iranian percussion (daf, dayereh, tombak) as well as European percussion. Her artistic work moves between traditional Iranian music and contemporary performance formats. Since 2013, she has been active internationally as a soloist and ensemble musician. She has collaborated with ensembles such as the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and worked with conductors including Daniel Barenboim and Zubin Mehta. In addition to her artistic work, she is also active as an educator.

Fatemeh Dehghani
Fatemeh Dehghani is an Iranian musician, oud player, and composer. She received her musical training in Tehran and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in traditional Iranian music at the University of Tehran. She performs internationally as a soloist and ensemble musician. Alongside her concert activity, she composes and leads her own project, “The Spirit Afar.” She is currently pursuing a further master’s degree in music education in Germany.

Sara Hasti
Sara Hasti studied Iranian music (kamancheh) and ethnomusicology in Tehran and has been continuing her studies since 2022 in applied musicology, music education, and community music in Germany. As a musician, she has performed with various ensembles, including the Babylon Orchestra Berlin. She has developed her own interdisciplinary projects, including a piano–kamancheh duo, and has also contributed to album productions.