This program is dedicated to the music of Maestro Muhammed Qadri Dalal, the renowned oud (lute) virtuoso, composer, scholar, and iconic musical figure of Aleppo. Born in 1946, Dalal has performed with many of the most important traditional singers since the 1970s, including Sabah Fakhri, Sabri Mudallal, and Adib al-Dayekh. He has composed works for numerous singers across Syria and the Arab world, including Shadi Jameel from Syria and Lotfi Boshnaq from Tunisia.

This concert offers a rare opportunity to experience Dalal’s music in New York, honoring his artistry while sharing the vitality of his living legacy with new audiences. Presented in an intimate chamber setting, the program focuses on his original compositions, which combine deep knowledge of the maqam tradition with his own distinctive creative voice.

Takht al-Nagham, directed by Syrian-American violinist and SMPI founder Samer Ali, is the performing ensemble of the Syrian Music Preservation Initiative. Committed to presenting Syrian classical and folk repertoire rarely heard in the U.S., this acclaimed New York-based ensemble performs in the traditional takht (Arab chamber music) style. For this performance, the ensemble features Samer Ali on violin, SMPI president Marissa Arciola on double bass, Jeremy Smith on riqq, and musicians on oud, nay (flute), and voice TBA.

This event is a coproduction with Robert Browning Associates, Brooklyn Maqam, and Lotus Music & Dance.