Kayhan Kalhor in Nuremberg

Kayhan Kalhor is an Iranian composer and virtuoso of the kamancheh, born in Tehran in 1963. Drawing on Persian classical music and the traditions of Iran’s Kurdish regions, he is known for recordings including Night Silence Desert, The Wind and Silent City. He was also a founding member of the Silkroad Ensemble and performed on its Grammy-winning album Sing Me Home. In the early 2000s, Kalhor toured with Masters of Persian Music alongside Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Hossein Alizadeh and Homayoun Shajarian. He later developed a concert partnership with Turkish bağlama player Erdal Erzincan, whose dialogue with his kamancheh was documented on The Wind. His recitals and ensemble performances have reached major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York.