THE HORSEMAN
THE HORSEMAN
A Contemporary Musical Journey
The Horseman (Tak-Savār) is the opening chapter of Echoes of Persia, a contemporary chamber-music cycle composed by Behzad Abdi.
Written for Persian tar and European string quartet, the work explores the relationship between traditional instrumental expression and contemporary composition.
The tar takes the principal musical voice, while the string quartet contributes to the work’s harmonic, rhythmic and dramatic development.
Structured as a five-movement suite with an approximate duration of 50 minutes, The Horseman unfolds as a continuous musical journey, moving through contrasting textures, rhythms and expressive landscapes.
As an independent concert work, it also introduces the musical language and artistic vision of the complete six-chapter Echoes of Persia cycle.
ARTISTS & PRODUCTION
BEHZAD ABDI, Composer
Behzad Abdi is an internationally recognised Iranian composer and a pioneering figure in contemporary Persian opera, with a distinguished career spanning opera, symphonic and chamber music, and film scoring. His work bridges Persian musical traditions and Western classical forms, notably through his acclaimed operas Rumi and Hafez, both released internationally by Naxos.
An award-winning composer, Abdi has received two Crystal Simorgh awards for Best Original Score, alongside several other prestigious distinctions for his contributions to film and contemporary music.
As the composer of all six chapters of Echoes of Persia, Abdi brings his distinctive musical language to an ambitious contemporary cycle connecting Persian instruments with European chamber music.
GUY DANEL, Senior Artistic Advisor
Guy Danel is a distinguished French cellist, chamber musician and educator from Lille, and founder of the internationally acclaimed Quatuor Danel. His extensive career includes collaborations with renowned ensembles such as the Amadeus, Borodin and LaSalle Quartets, as well as performances and recordings of major chamber music repertoire.
A faculty member at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and founding president of Chamber Music for Europe, he is dedicated to supporting emerging ensembles and fostering innovative artistic and educational initiatives. He brings his extensive chamber music expertise, artistic leadership and international network to Echoes of Persia as Senior Artistic Advisor.
MILAD MOHAMADI, Tar Soloist
Milad Mohammadi is an award-winning Iranian tar virtuoso and composer, internationally recognised for his distinctive musical expression and innovative approach to Persian classical music. Combining a deep understanding of traditional musical heritage with a contemporary artistic vision, he has developed a versatile career as both a soloist and collaborator, working with acclaimed artists including Homayoun Shajarian, Alireza Ghorbani and Hoshyar Khayyam.
His international career includes performances at prestigious cultural venues and festivals such as the Venice Biennale, Fes Festival, Mawazine Festival, BOZAR Brussels and Philharmonie de Paris. Through his performances and artistic collaborations, Mohammadi continues to bring the expressive richness of t…
NAKA QUARTET, String Quartet
Founded in 2024, NAKA Quartet is an emerging international string quartet whose repertoire spans classical masterpieces and contemporary creation. The ensemble won First Prize at the Supernova 2026 Competition in Brussels, earning a concert tour across Belgium and a featured performance at Klarafestival.
The quartet has participated in artistic residencies in France, Belgium and Italy, and collaborated with contemporary composers including Daniele Bravi, Yves Balmer and Bastien David. Its members have developed their chamber-music practice under the guidance of distinguished musicians and ensembles, including Quatuor Diotima, the Silesian Quartet and Guy Danel.
AMIR PANAHI, Producer & Artistic Director
Amir Panahi is an Iranian cultural producer, entrepreneur and strategic leader with a background in international project development, strategic management and creative production. As founder of Art Corner Platform and President of ABGINEH Association in France, he leads the strategic vision, artistic development and international partnerships of both initiatives, including co-production collaborations with Klarafestival in Belgium.
As the creator and producer of Echoes of Persia, he leads the project’s artistic direction, production strategy and international development, bringing together distinguished artists, European ensembles and cultural institutions to realise an ambitious six-chapter contemporary music cycle.
Production Framework
Creative & Artistic Production : Art Corner Platform
Cultural Development & International Cooperation : ABGINEH Association
Development partner : The Leader’s Journey
UPCOMING EVENTS
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SUPPORT & COLLABORATION
Be Part of The Horseman
The Horseman welcomes partnerships with cultural institutions, festivals, concert halls, artistic producers and supporters interested in bringing this contemporary musical work to international audiences.
Whether through concert programming, artistic co-production, sponsorship or support for recording and audiovisual development, there are different ways to contribute to the project’s next stages.
We welcome conversations with partners who share our commitment to contemporary artistic creation and international cultural dialogue.