The Grammy-winning Silkroad Ensemble was originally conceived by Yo-Yo Ma in the late '90s (though Ma will not appear in this performance). In the multimedia project, "Home Within," a small ensemble of performers will accompany the visual art of Syrian Armenian artist Kevork Mourad. Through live projections of Mourad's illustrations — he works on stage alongside the musicians — the program explores Syria's recent history and strife, and the artists reflect on what home is amidst tragedy and loss. Performers include Syrian composer and clarinet player Kinan Azmeh, who conceived the project with Mourad, as well as Layale Chaker, Shawn Conley, Karen Ouzounian, Issam Rafea and Shane Shanahan. As the world faces even more conflict and growing refugee crises, this reflection feels almost necessary.—Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS (from San Diego weekend arts preview)From the organizer:Conceived by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, the GRAMMY Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble thrills audiences worldwide with a collective of artists representing dozens of nationalities and artistic traditions. Now this prestigious ensemble brings us “Home Within,” an emotional accounting of home in a time of conflict.An audio-visual performance conceived by Syrian composer and clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and Syrian Armenian visual artist Kevork Mourad, it is an impressionistic reflection on the unity of loss, longing, and the impact of tragedy on our sense of “home.” The artists document “home” within specific moments in Syria’s recent history, using image and sound to establish a sense of sustained urgency and continued hope for their homeland and communities around the world.Date | Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m.Location | The Baker-Baum Concert Hall at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts CenterGet tickets here!Ticket prices ranging from $36 to $70.For more information, please visit ljms.org/events/silk-road-ensemble or call (858) 459-3728.
