Press
“Hear [the Duo Kalysta] if you can, either in concert or this way.”
— Gorman, American Record Guide
May-June 2020 (about the recording Origins)
“Deutsch, a player who can soften or strengthen her handsome tone according to need, is very much in the first chair.”
— Arthur Kaptainis, La Scena Musicale
February 2020
"Deutsch revealed new worlds of colour and meaning in every single note ... an astonishing artist"
— Scott Tresham, Senior Producer at CBC Music
“Hear [the Duo Kalysta] if you can, either in concert or this way.”
— Gorman, American Record Guide
May-June 2020 (about the recording Origins)
“Deutsch, a player who can soften or strengthen her handsome tone according to need, is very much in the first chair.”
— Arthur Kaptainis, La Scena Musicale
February 2020
"Deutsch revealed new worlds of colour and meaning in every single note ... an astonishing artist"
— Scott Tresham, Senior Producer at CBC Music
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About Amir Amiri
Santur player, composer, and cultural inventor Amir Amiri dwells at the centre of a unique musical universe where ancient inspiration, dazzling virtuosity, and bold creativity meet. Surrounding himself with outstanding collaborators from the worlds of jazz, classical and world music, Amiri fearlessly transcends genres and borders, exquisitely transporting his ancient instrument into the musical conversations of our time.
Amiri composed the soundtrack for the film Universal Language, which was short-listed to represent Canada at the Oscars 2025. The film already won the Director's Fortnight Audience Award at Cannes 2024.
Born in Tehran, Iran, Amiri is a master of the santur, a 72-string instrument dating from approximately 500 BCE.
Since arriving in Canada in 1996, Amiri has created numerous groundbreaking ensembles including the Amir Amiri Ensemble, inspired by the fluidity of musical influences in Iran and featuring the hypnotic presence of a Whirling Dervish; and Ensemble Kimya, a Montreal-Paris collaboration, combining early classical and contemporary music from Europe, the Middle East and India. Perséides, his duo with double bass player Jean Félix Mailloux, was featured at the National Arts Centre’s Sounds of Persia: Canada’s New Music Masters in 2018, where Amiri was Artistic Director. His duo Moody Amiri, with violist Richard Moody, has been praised by CBC for its “tantalizing blend of eastern and western sensibilities”. Amir is also occasionally joined by his fellow master improviser, the jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, in an evening of musical exploration and discovery.
Amir Amiri was awarded the 2003 CBC Artist of the Year from the Galaxie Rising Stars Program. He performs and tours with a vast spectrum of ensembles, enchanting with his signature down-to-earth style and profound connection with audiences.
Recent solo performances highlights include concerts at the Festival Vares Classics in Bosnia in September 2021 and at the Détours de Babel in France in early October 2021. He was invited to showcase with the Amir Amiri Ensemble at WOMEX 2021 in Porto. The Amir Amiri Ensemble has recently toured extensively across Canada and Colombia and released their globally acclaimed debut album Ajdad - Ancestors: Echoes of Persia in September 2024.
Compositeur et inventeur culturel, le santouriste Amir Amiri tente d'explorer les limites de sa musique et cherche à infiltrer les pratiques musicales de notre temps, en transcendant les frontières et les genres. D'une virtuosité éblouissante et d'une imagination débordante, Amir crée un univers musical enchanteur et unique à chaque représentation.
Amiri a composé la bande sonore du film Universal Language, qui a été présélectionné pour représenter le Canada aux Oscars 2025. Ce film a déjà remporté le Prix du public de la Quinzaine des réalisateurs à Cannes 2024.
Amir a travaillé tant avec Bob Becker, Edgar Meyer et David Takeno qu’avec les jazzmen Hugh Fraser, Darcy Phillip Gray, Mike Murley et John Stetch. Il a également collaboré avec le chanteur-compositeur Pierre Lapointe, et des ensembles comme Constantinople. Il développe d'autres de ses talents comme la percussion, la composition et la direction musicale, et conseille plusieurs compagnies de théâtre et de danse.
En 2003, Amir a reçu le prix de l’Artiste de l’année par CBC Galaxie Rising Stars. Il s’est également vu décerner le Betty Mitchell Award pour son travail de conception musicale dans la pièce Helen's Necklace. Il a par ailleurs participé aux bandes originales des films Cooking with Stella, Green Revolution, ainsi qu’à quelques documentaires.
Parmi ses récents faits marquants en solo figurent des concerts au Festival Vares Classics en Bosnie en septembre 2021 et aux Détours de Babel en France début octobre 2021. Il a été invité à présenter l’Amir Amiri Ensemble au WOMEX 2021 à Porto. L’ensemble a récemment effectué de nombreuses tournées à travers le Canada et la Colombie et a sorti son premier album, Ajdad - Ancestors: Echoes of Persia, acclamé mondialement, en septembre 2024.
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Amir Amiri Ensemble & Chakâm
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