Presented by Small World Music

Join us for a special evening rooted in the rich tradition of Iranian classical music.

Drawing from the Radif, the foundational repertoire of Persian music, the performance follows the traditional Saz o Avaz form - initiating a dialogue between instrumental improvisation and vocal expression. Audiences will experience a seamless blend of classical modes (Dastgahs), lyrical vocal improvisations, and expressive Tasnifs (classical songs), including historical pieces alongside original compositions by Mehdi Bagheri. This performance offers a deeply immersive and culturally authentic journey through the profound and poetic world of Iranian classical music.

About the Artists:
Mojgan Shajarian is a distinguished Iranian-American artist whose work spans Persian classical music, visual arts, and graphic design. As the daughter of legendary vocalist Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Mojgan has upheld and expanded her family’s artistic legacy through decades of performance, teaching, and creative exploration.

She received formal training in Persian music from some of the most renowned masters of her time. She began studying Setar under Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh, and continued her training in Radif and Avaz with Parviz Meshkatian and Mehrbano Tofigh. Her vocal artistry was deeply shaped by mentorship with her father, whose influence resonates in her expressive and refined style.

Mehdi Bagheri is an internationally acclaimed Kamancheh virtuoso, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Kermanshah, Iran. Known for blending Persian classical music with contemporary, cinematic, and cross-cultural styles, he studied under masters Kayhan Kalhor and Ardeshir Kamkar. Mehdi has performed globally at venues such as Théâtre de la Ville, Royal Festival Hall, Getty Center, and with the Berlin Radio Choir. He recorded the complete Radif of Maestro Shahnazi and released albums including Caravanserai and M&M: The Afro-Persian Experience. His film and game contributions include Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Hammer and Bolter.



Guest musician: Farhad Fathieh
Born in Tehran, Iran, Farhad Fathieh is a Kamancheh and Tonbak player. He began his musical journey at an early age, learning the fundamentals of classical Iranian music under the guidance of his father. By the age of nine, his deep passion for rhythm led him to the Tonbak, where he studied with the renowned master Kambiz Ganjei.

Over the years, Farhad broadened his training, studying Santour and Kamancheh with several maestros and performing the Radif٫the traditional modes and repertoires of Iranian music. He has since performed with various ensembles and at international festivals, sharing the rich sounds of Iranian traditional music with audiences around the world.

Doors open at 8:00 PM

If you have any further questions or require accessibility accommodations, feel free to reach out to us at boxoffice@smallworldmusic.com or call (416) 536-5439.

The 2025 Small World Music Series is sponsored by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.