Newport Classical Music Festival: Palaver Strings explores Folk Music 🎵

This concert is made possible through the generous support of Ms. Virginia Gambale and Dr. Austin Feeney.

Palaver Strings, a dynamic musician-led ensemble brings an evening of stirring performances to The Breakers, showcasing their commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices. Praised for their ability to “command a stage on their own terms” (The Boston Globe), the ensemble explores folk music from around the world, addressing themes of heritage, belonging, and resilience. The program features Kareem Roustom’s new work ḥawwāsh inspired by a traditional Arab line dance, alongside Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, and more, celebrating folk music as a powerful vehicle for both strength and joy.

Program
Sidney Boquiren A Prayer for Immigrants
Maya French / Jaime Oshima moth
Petalo Selser Deriva
Bongani Ndodana-Breen Apologia at Umzimvuba
Trad Three Balkan Folk Songs
(arr. Lysander Jaffe)
Bartok Romanian Folk Dances
Kinan Azmeh Syrian Dances
Trad Syrian Folk Dances
(arr. Kareem Roustom)
Kareem Roustom ḥawwāsh
*Program is subject to change