Tales and Wonders of Persia

Malika Halbaoui brings the legends of ancient Persia back to life through her gifts as a storyteller and poet. Favoring a playful approach, she pays homage to the greatest Persian and Arab poets, and invites us to discover words up close and personal. This storytelling performance will focus in particular on the legends of the pre-Islamic Persian world: many are taken from the Shâhnâmeh or Book of Kings, the Iranian national epic tale.

“The old fairy, with each of her long hairs, weaves a cloak of immortality. A king claims he can clothe himself in this extraordinary garment. Will he succeed? The child of a valiant warrior is abandoned at the foot of a mountain. He is taken in by the legendary Simorgh bird. He is the child born an old man… Later, he is given a flamboyant name, Zâl, meaning “white-haired”. The love story of Zâl and Roudâbé also unfolds in this founding tale of Persian culture. This Diwan of mountains and wonders will be enhanced by the poetry of Rabia Balkhi, the first Persian poetess, as well as the mystical love odes of Roudaki and Rûmi. To good listeners, Salvation…” Malika Halbaoui