© Arnaud Ele
Elshan Ghasimi
(born in 1981 in Isfahan, Iran) is a virtuoso of the Persian long-necked lutes—the tar, setar, and robab—as well as the dayere, and an expert in Persian art music. She is a versatile artist, composer, innovative performer, and dedicated educator whose work explores the intersections between tradition and modernity, East and West, and music and other artistic disciplines.Deeply rooted in the radif—the repertoire of classical Persian music—Ghasimi has devoted many years to mastering it and is now driving its reinterpretation in a contemporary artistic context. At the age of 17, she became the youngest member of the Iranian National Orchestra, marking the beginning of her career.
She has lived in Germany since 2016, where she continues to perform as a soloist, compose, and collaborate with renowned ensembles such as Concerto Köln. Her work combines the Persian musical heritage with a variety of musical genres—including contemporary classical music, jazz, experimental music, and early music.
„In her playing […] every phrase is invested with deep thought and grave authority.“ - Michael Church, Musics Lost and Found (2021)