An evening with The Albaidar Duo at Cafe No9

Event information

The Albaidar Duo will take audiences on a journey through the rich traditions of
Arab folk and classical music, with a special focus on Syria, where both musicians
have their roots. In a chamber setting, listeners will be immersed in evocative
melodies and rhythms, exploring essential themes of love, nature, and homeland.
The duo presents Arabic music in carefully crafted arrangements, enhancing the
traditional timbres of the oud, daf, riq, and nay with the Western flute.

The Albaidar Duo is a unique collaboration between two independent artists
that began in 2014 while they were members of the Prague-based ensemble
Ziriab. In 2023, Kristýna and Marwan released music videos as a tribute to
Arab divas Asmahan and Layla Mourad. In May 2024, they performed at
Kettle’s Yard gallery in Cambridge in response to an exhibition by Syrian
visual artist Issam Kourbaj. Inspired by one of the exhibition’s recurring
themes—wheat seeds—they took the name Albaidar (البيدر(, referring to the
threshing floor, where wheat is separated from the chaff—a symbol of
refinement and transformation. In January, the duo performed at Mezrab –
The House of Stories in Amsterdam and is set to give several concerts
across Europe this year.

With a blend of Slovak and Syrian heritage, Czech flautist and singer Kristýna
Farag draws on both classical music and Middle Eastern traditions. A versatile
independent musician, she specialises in 20th-century and Arabic music, as well
as improvisation with her Prague-based quartet, Fahrzavö. Passionate about
choral music, particularly the British tradition, she is also a member of the Leeds
Guild of Singers, led by Benjamin Kirk. She has recorded with and performed at
international festivals alongside renowned ensembles such as the Baborák
Ensemble and the Prague Symphony Orchestra and won first prize in the flute trio
category at the Friedrich Kuhlau International Competition in Uelzen, Germany, in
2011.

https://kristynafarag.com/

Marwan Alsolaiman is a Damascus-born, Prague-based musician, poet, and
teacher. Having learned to play the oud, Middle Eastern flutes (nay), and various
percussion instruments, Marwan founded Ziriab, an ensemble devoted to the
Arabic musical tradition. He is a member of the early music ensemble Kvinterna.
Marwan collaborates with several Czech bands, bringing Middle Eastern elements
to the Czech folk scene. He leads workshops and gives lectures on Arab music
and instruments. He is also a teacher of Czech as a foreign language and physics.
As a prolific poet, he writes in both Arabic and Czech and has released two
collections of poems.

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Please note this ticket price DOES include a BYOB fee should you wish to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and sweet treats from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.