Mugham as Devotion: A Conversation with Alim Qasimov and Sashar Zarif

Presented by Small World Music 

This rare and intimate gathering offers a window into the inner world of , one of the most revered vocalists of our time and a living master of mugham—Azerbaijan’s centuries-old tradition of improvised, emotionally rich vocal music.

Qasimov reflects on what happens when singing becomes prayer, when sound becomes a mirror of the soul, and when silence speaks as clearly as any word. His voice does not emerge in form alone, but from feeling, presence, and surrender.

Joining him in this conversation is , a Toronto-based interdisciplinary dance artist and longtime collaborator. His work explores the role of movement within the sacred architecture of mugham—where the body listens, remembers, and responds. Their shared journey through mugham brings layers of memory and embodied experience to this exchange.

Doors open at 7:30 PM 

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