Ensemble Chakâm (Iran, France, Greece)

Sogol Mirzaei, tar; Eleanna Pitsikaki, qanoûn; Marie-Suzanne de Loye, viola da gamba 

Ensemble Chakâm, named after an ancient Persian poetic form, explores the intersection of music and poetry, creating a distinctive artistic language in which master instrumentalists performing on traditional string instruments – the tar, qanoûn, and viola da gamba – bring to life musical material situated between classical heritage and contemporary improvisation. The trio draws on the rich traditions of Persian, Arabic, and European Baroque repertoires, weaving them together with original contemporary compositions. The string instruments engage in a dialogue that alternates between sonic intensity and meditative contemplation, forging connections between three distinct musical worlds. The ensemble’s founder, the Iranian musician Sogol Mirzaei, is a renowned performer of Iranian classical music on the tar. While completing her master’s degree in musicology at the Sorbonne, she crossed paths with Marie-Suzanne de Loye, a viola da gambist specialising in early music, particularly the musical legacies of Anatolia, Persia, and Brittany.

The ensemble’s third member, the Greek artist Eleanna Pitsikaki, is among the most distinguished qanoûn players on today’s international music scene. She approaches her instrument with a distinctive artistic vision, reviving traditions from both East and West while blending maqam with jazz and heritage with modernity. She is currently completing her doctoral studies at the University of Music in Mainz, where her research focuses on cross-cultural music, migration, and belonging.

The trio thus embodies a convergence of life trajectories and experiences; through music, its members express a longing for the lands they have left behind, a sense of rootlessness, and memories of places gradually disappearing. At the same time, the ensemble bears witness to the creative power that emerges through encounter, discovery, and the continual reshaping of identity.