Homayoun Shajarian and The Dastan Ensemble

Cadogan Hall, London, February 6 2008

This was Homayoun Shajarian’s first appearance as a solo vocalist. The audience had high expectations, not only because this was the son of legendary Persian classical singer Mohammad Reza Shajarian, but because his accompanists, the Dastan Ensemble, are one of the most distinguished ensembles in Persian classical music today. So this was a different format for Shajarian junior – also an accomplished tombak (goblet drum) player – as he had always previously performed as a percussionist alongside his father. The Dastan Ensemble – made up of five musicians playing the barbat (short- necked lute), tar (long-necked lute), kamancheh (spike fiddle), as well as various types of percussion – were spectacular not only as performers but as composers too, as some of the works were written by the musicians themselves. Yet this was a night for Shajarian to shine and, though he had big shoes to fill, he did so with grace. When returning for an encore, he brought even more pleasure to the audience by singing an all-time favourite, ‘Morghe Sahar.’ It seems certain that Homayoun will continue the high reputation of the Shajarian name and impress old and new audiences for years to come.

Nasim Masoud - Songlines