Lunchtime Concert ft. the Saira Peter Ensemble | Westminster Music Library
Concerts
Classical
Westminster Music Library
presents the
Saira Peter Ensemble
(voice, piano and harmonium) for a free lunchtime concert in a relaxed environment.
Programme:
John Dowland
- Flow my Tears (1600)
Peter Warlock
- Pretty ring time (1925)
Reynaldo Hahn
- L'heure Exquise (1887)
Georges Bizet
- Habenera from opera Carmen (1875)
George Frederick Handel
- Lascia Ch’io Pianga, from Rinaldo (1711)
Giacomo Puccini
- Vissi D’arte, from Tosca (1900)
Paul Knight
- God is my King from sufi opera Marvi’s Tears (2024)
Felix Mendelssohn
- O Rest in the Lord, from Elijah (1846)
Traditional
- Thillana in Raga Kuntalavarali, South Indian classical
Saira Peter
- Mann Nayshan-e-Karwan, Persian ghazal (2018)
Taufiq Qureshi
- Rhydhun, operatic version of song (2015)
SAIRA PETER
MSc (Karachi) MA (London)
British-Asian soprano
Saira Peter
, hailing from Pakistan’s Christian minority, is based in London and travels the world with her unique approach to vocalisation. Her repertoire combines elements of both Eastern and Western classical traditions. She reaches out to audiences and cultures who may not naturally be drawn to conventional concert platforms. Saira sings in seventeen languages (so far) and has performed in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. She is regularly promoted on international media eg BBC, National Geographic, The Independent Urdu, Aljazeera, City A.M. and Arab News - Saudi Arabia. She has been featured in OZY magazine by Guardian writer Sophia Akram. Saira was the featured singer on the recording of the theme tunes for hit Pakistani dramas Nehar, Dil Awaiz and Grift. She is currently pioneering a new fusion genre of operatic style music called Sufi Opera. This is a unique project that synthesises Eastern raag and Western operatic style, and draws upon both conventional Eastern instruments and a Western orchestra to harness their individual qualities and create a new sound world. Saira is preparing for the lead role of Marvi, goat-herder of Malir, in upcoming sufi opera ‘Marvi’s Tears’. She is also Director of NJ Arts London and Saira Arts Academy (Lahore), where she provides training in the performing arts to women and underprivileged youth.
Web:
www.sairapeter.com
YouTube: Saira Peter
Instagram: saira.peter
Facebook: sairaptr
Saira Peter is accompanied by two of her long-time musical collaborators:
PAUL KNIGHT
Piano soloist, accompanist, composer and vocal coach.
www.paulwknightmusic.com
STEPHEN SMITH
MA (USA) MA (London)
Stephen Smith
is an ethnomusicologist, pianist and harmonium specialist with twenty-five years experience working with professional performing artists from across Pakistan and India. Having visited the Subcontinent numerous times, he has performed on national television and radio, before heads of state, government ministers, diplomats, sports celebrities, schools, universities, and in rural villages, sufi shrines etc. He is Saira Peter’s regular accompanist on harmonium.
www.ariasstudio.com
Founded in 1948, Westminster Music Library holds one of the largest public collections of sheet music and music books in the UK. We are part of the Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea BiBorough Library Service, and our materials are free to use and borrow.
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Information Source: City of Westminster Libraries & Archives | eventbrite