ENSEMBLE CHAKÂM

Ensemble Chakâm, named after an ancient Persian poetic form, unveils a language of conversing strings, delicate prose and confronting verses resolving into a powerful breath, at times laying a peaceful harmony for words to triumph.

The ensemble weaves the radiance of Sogol Mirzaei‘s tar (Iran) with the silk touch of Christine Zayed‘s qanun (Palestine), on the profound tones of Marie-Suzanne de Loye‘s viola da gamba (France).

Drawing upon the classical foundations of Persian, Arabic and Baroque repertoires, where intense rhythmic sections give way to vibrant melodious tirades, the performances of Chakam resonate with personal, authentic yet modern compositions entwined with soulful improvisations.

Eventually, the trio is a meeting at the crossroads of journeys: a yearning for lands left too soon, uprootedness and the memories of places that vanish but in the music, yet also the relentless vitality of experience, discovery and rebirth.

Since its inception in 2019, Chakam Ensemble is shining with lightning ascension in France, rewarded with the well-deserved Diaspora Music Awards in 2023.

Official WOMEX 2024 Selection

Prix des Musiques d’Ici 2023 Award

ICART Session 2021 Award

Co-reprented with YOL Music

Sogol MIRZAEI – târ

A târ and sétâr player for many years, Sogol Mirzaei is now one of the most recognized representatives of Iran’s classical music in Europe. With extensive experience as a concert artist within various ensembles in Iran, Sogol Mirzaei has continued her career in Europe since 2006. She holds a Master’s degree in Musicology from the Sorbonne and currently performs worldwide, both as a soloist and within musical ensembles such as Orpheus 21 with Jordi Savall, the Ensemble Chakâm, which she founded, the Rokhs quartet and duo, Sowal Diabi with Mamani Keita, and Atine, where her compositions are rooted in the grand tradition of Iranian music

Christine ZAYED – qanun, vocals

Born in Palestine into a music-loving family, Christine Zayed grew up between Jerusalem and Ramallah, dedicating herself to classical, contemporary, and traditional Arabic music. At the age of 21, she left Palestine for France, where she pursued a career as an artist and teaches at the Edgar Varèse Conservatory in Gennevilliers. A singer, composer, and qanun virtuoso, Christine shares her art with an international audience, whether as a solo artist or through various artistic collaborations. In 2023, she also became an award-winning film composer after composing, performing, and recording the original music for the film ‘Un jeudi pour Darwin’ by Mathieu Baillargeon, and she is preparing to release her solo album with T-records

Marie-Suzanne DE LOYE – viola da gamba

A graduate of the CRR of Boulogne-Billancourt in early music and holding a degree in musicology from Paris IV Sorbonne, Marie-Suzanne is interested in various musical genres: Anatolian music alongside Rusan Filiztek, Persian music with Atine, Breton music within the KBA9 (in a repertoire mixing vocals, strings, and electro), French chanson with Datura, and Irish and French folk in Cathy Gringelli’s quartet. In contemporary music, she has participated in creations by Lionel Ginoux, Jean-Pierre Seyvos, and Zad Moultaka. She regularly collaborates with early music ensembles such as l’Achéron or La Tempête, and is part of the Chant Funérailles collective, which accompanies civil funeral ceremonies.