‘Crossings: Songs from the East’ is a cross-cultural collaboration presenting traditional and improvised music spanning the Greek, Kurdish, Arabic and Persian traditions.

This is an exciting coming together of local Sydney-based musicians from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, drawing from both their own musical heritage and their contemporary experience of multicultural Australia. A rich program of song from both the folk and classical traditions of the cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East regions, taking the audience on a musical passage from the Mediterranean to Mesopotamia.

The five musicians featured, including first-generation Australians of Greek, Kurdish, Iraqi and Persian origin, share a common musical language – a language anchored in centuries old systems but at the same time contemporary and inspiring of innovation.

And this is exactly what audiences can expect from Metin Yilmaz, Mustafa Karami, John Robinson, Dimitri Koubaroulis and Imad Rahem on their respective instruments: kaval (wooden flute), daf (frame drum), oud (fretless lute), kanun (plucked lap zither), voice and violin.

The only Greek Australian performer Dimitri Koubaroulis was a former Lambadarios (left chanter) of The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, where he also co-founded the School of Byzantine Chant.

Dimitri is dedicated to the preservation of the Art of Byzantine Chant and to its performance, promotion, archiving and research. He holds a Teacher of Byzantine Chant Diploma from the Conservatorium of Philippos Nakas, Athens. He has performed with renowned Byzantine choirs both in Greece and Australia and is the owner and administrator of the largest online website and forums dedicated to the sharing of Byzantine chant resources and information world-wide.

He formed Melisma Ensemble with the aim to bring the beauty of the Art of Byzantine Chant to a wide music-appreciating audience and to bring to light a rich musical tradition not often heard and performed. Dimitri is also a multi-instrumentalist (oud, kanun, saz) and performing artist specialising in the musical traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean.

‘Crossings: Songs from The East’ will be held on Sunday 2 June at the Utzon Room – Sydney Opera House. For bookings visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com or call (02) 9250 7777.