CARLOS PIÑANA & ENSEMBLE

The Journey of Instruments IV

In the heart of Berlin, where cultures blend and arts converge, Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma invites audiences on a musical journey through time, tracing the influence of the oud, the oldest stringed instrument known to history. Over the course of four millennia, the oud traveled from Mesopotamia to Persia, then to Andalusia, paving the way for the birth of similar instruments, including the guitar, lute, rebab, and mandolin in Europe, the sitar in India, and the tar in Iran. Shamma has curated a series of five concerts reflecting the instrument’s impact on intertwined musical styles that speak to the depth of cultural exchange between peoples. “These concerts are not just performances,” Shamma says, “they are meetings with time, where melodies blend with history. This series is an invitation to dive into the journey of the oud as an instrument and as a bridge between civilizations. Every string carries the echo of thousands of years, and every note tells the story of humanity.”

Artists/Collaborators: Carlos Piñana, Rainer Maria Nero, Miguel Ángel Orengo, Guillermo Ramos, Mamen Baños

Next date:

• Date Saturday, 02/May/2026 19:00
• Venue Pierre Boulez Saal
• Address Französische Straße 33 D, 10117 Berlin-Mitte