Here in Australia the vast majority of us are really wrapped in cotton wool. Problems which cause anxiety tend to be financial, health or day to day issues. Our country has been in an outward state of peace for as long as we can remember. Yet, in Iraq, trouble has brewed for decades and, for the people who live there, surviving each day is a blessing, noticed and appreciated.
Coming from this war torn country is an expert and most sensitive artist musician, Rahim AlHaj. Forced to flee after protesting against Saddam Hussien’s regime and being imprisoned twice, AlHaj made his way through Jordan and Syria to the United States. As a composer and musician he now travels widely around the world performing. He has several albums to his name and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. More recently he was the recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honour for traditional folk musicians in America.
Named as one of the “true oud masters of Iraq” AlHaj performed his cycle work “Letters from Iraq”. Each letter tells the story of a different Iraqi, male or female, young or old and the grueling events that epitomise life in Iraq. Performing alongside was the incredible New Zealand based American Percussionist Justin DeHart and an excellent string quintet featuring Anna Da Silva Chen, Lydia Sawires, Dana Lee, Jack Ward and Ben Ward.
The opening movement “The Last Time We Will Fly Birds – Riyadh” began very simply with a melancholic perspective. The story was of a boy returning home to find his house destroyed by a car bomb. His homing pigeons are circling in the sky, unable to come home. The music shudders like a passing storm, then feels like a little sunshine peak through the clouds before returning full circle to its beginning.
We all need a home in the end and this was the theme that threaded throughout the work.
AlHaj speaks between movements of each story shared in the letters: secret “illegal” love, the pain of separation, a bombed market where a little girl sings a lullaby over her mother’s body in the hope she will wake up, the dream of a boy wanting to go back to his neighbourhood so he can play soccer with his friends and have fun again; AlHaj’s own story of one day of going home again and the final gripping climax of a boy with polio who knows he cannot outrun the next bomb (for there are always two). He sits and waits, bidding his friends and family farewell in his mind as everyone else runs for their lives. Each story is highly dramatic, so very intimate and easy relatable. Another time, another place, it could be any one of us in the same situation.
The movements swayed between deeply troubled and introverted to optimistic and celebratory with the rich rhythms drawn from centuries of folk music. AlHaj showed himself to be elegant, articulate and kind hearted, gently awakening the audience to see how lucky they were and to ask, on behalf of all refugees, for dignity and respect. A delightful little interlude came when he had the audience sing Happy Birthday to Casey, our curator of the Utzon Room music series.
His story of goading Barack Obama into giving him $20 for his time brought plenty of laughter. After a performance at the Whitehouse, Obama asked AlHaj to tell him more about the oud. As their conversation drew to a close, Obama asked if AlHaj wanted him to autograph the $20. AlHaj declined saying he was more famous than Obama already, much to his amusement. It shows a character that may, on the surface, appear gentle and artistic but, to the core, he is courageous and will stand vigilant by his values. I am very sure no politician will be remembered with such reverence as AlHaj once the decades progress.
Music for the accompanying musicians was frequently kept simple to frame the magnificent oud improvisation. Other times, fiery dance rhythms had audience members grooving in their seats. The composition was excellent, memorable and unique. The audience was completely riveted from beginning to end, gave rousing applause throughout the performance along with two standing ovations.
This gentleman musician has a powerful message to advocate for the rights and dignity of refugees and he offers it in the most tasteful and powerful way through his music. Keep an eye out for Rahim AlHaj next time he visits.
Performers:
Rahim AlHaj, composer and oud
Justin DeHart, Percussion
Anna Da Silva Chen, Lydia Sawires, Dana Lee, Jack Ward, Ben Ward; String quintet
Artist website: http://rahimalhaj.com/
More music in the Utzon Room Series: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/classical-music/2022/utzon-music.html
This review has been written by Annabelle Drumm. Her review is of the concert that took place on the 23 October 2022.