| For children up to and including 8 years of age, a free ticket can be booked via the ticket shop.

Shervin Nekuee and GROUNDS are proud to present the very first edition of De Nacht van Rumi: a groundbreaking festival that brings cultures together through music, poetry and storytelling.

This night, visitors will be taken on a musical and poetic journey. Initiator and artistic director Shervin Nekuee—who previously organised the renowned Mystic Festival Rotterdam at Grounds—is once again bringing together artists from diverse linguistic backgrounds and musical traditions. This time, the focus is on the poems, stories and philosophy of the thirteenth-century Persian poet Rumi, who has also become a great source of inspiration and comfort in the West.

Rumi’s motto in life was clear: “We are here on earth to bring people together, not to sow division.” In keeping with this spirit, we are celebrating a programme in which differences in language, style and culture blend together organically.

Multilingual musical crossover

A fusion of traditional and modern sounds, performed in Persian, Arabic, Dutch and Turkish:

PART I

• Shervin Nekuee & Balout Khazraei: ‘De Taal van het Hart’ – A captivating musical poetry recital.

• Sinan Can: The well-known journalist talks about his personal love for Rumi’s philosophy and recites in Turkish, English and Dutch.

• Aref Ahmadi: Rumi’s Chanting — Vocals, tanbur (traditional Persian long-necked lute) and daf (percussion).

• Ali Safavian & Ranaa Choir Ensemble: With his unique voice, the Iranian tenor bridges the gap between Western opera and classical Persian music.

First break: with saffron tea and halva

PART II

• Karima El Fillali & Léa Besançon: An enchanting rendition of Arabic mystical poetry by the singer Karima El Fillali, accompanied by the French cellist Léa Besançon.

• Sahand Sahebdivani: Master storyteller Sahand brings Rumi’s mystical stories, written in verse, into Dutch and into the here and now.

 Second break: with saffron tea and halva

PART III

• Het Rumi-Levenslied (a first!): A bold artistic innovation in which Balout Khazraei (a virtuoso setar player and vocalist specialising in mystical poetry) joins forces with Stefkamusic, the musical project of singer-songwriter Stephanie Ruijsenaars and her band: Christian ten Hoope — double bass, Robbert Verweij — trumpet, Midas Ghysels — flamenco guitar

Third break: with saffron tea and halva

PART IV

• Ilyas Nadjafi & Satyakam Mohkamsing: Ilyas Nadjafi recites Rumi’s most famous verses in Persian, accompanied by the virtuoso violinist Satyakam Mohkamsing (in the Indian style), preceded and introduced by a Dutch recitation by Shervin Nekuee.

• Sufi Chanting: A joint closing session with Aref Ahmadi, Michel Stooker, Balout Khazraei and others.

Expected end time: midnight

And in keeping with true Eastern hospitality, our visitors are welcomed with fragrant Persian tea and traditional sweets. The entire welcoming experience is organised by Rotterdam-based culinary connoisseur and cultural ambassador Sima Moaf and her Sahand Foundation.