FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Robert Cable, Stanford Live 650-736-0091 [email protected] PHOTOS: http://live.stanford.edu/press
EMEL MATHLOUTHI, ‘THE VOICE OF THE TUNISIAN REVOLUTION,’ COMES TO BING CONCERT HALL ON OCTOBER 5
Her performance anchors Stanford Live’s ‘Islamic Voices’ series, which celebrates contemporary Muslim music with Islamic hip-hop artists and a conversation with best-selling writer Reza Aslan
Stanford, CA, September 9, 2016—In the summer of 2007, at the iconic Place de la Bastille in Paris, where the French Revolution began, Emel Mathlouthi sang “Kelmti Horra” (“My Word Is Free”) to an audience of tens of thousands. A video of the performance reached Tunisia and resonated with protesters in the streets. It earned her the title “the voice of the Tunisian revolution” and in the process she came to be regarded as that country’s Joan Baez. On October 5, at 7:30 p.m., Mathlouthi comes to Bing Concert Hall — with Pier Luigi Salami on keyboards and Shawn Crowder on drums — as part of Stanford Live’s Live Context series titled Islamic Voices, presented in partnership with the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies and Stanford’s Institute for Diversity in the Arts. “I see art as a very revolutionary way to change mentalities,” said the Tunsian-born Mathlouthi in an interview with NPR. Despite initially fleeing to France due to censorship and government harassment, Mathlouthi released her iconic studio album, also titled Kelmti Horra, worldwide, and bootlegs of her live performances circulated on the Internet, galvanizing revolt and challenging tradition. Her songs of freedom and compassion also earned her a spotlight at the 22nd Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2015. Immediately prior to the performance at Bing, at 6:30 p.m., Stanford professors Ramzi Salti, host of the podcast Arabology, and Joel Beinin will set the stage for Mathlouthi by discussing the Tunisian Revolution, how it launched the Arab Spring, and how her music became its soundtrack.
Stanford University, 425 Santa Teresa Street MC 2250, Stanford, CA 94305-2250 ē Tel 650.723.2551 ē live.stanford.edu
In the years since what was known as the Arab Spring protests, which began in late 2010 in the streets of Tunisia, then spilled over into Egypt and spread across the Middle East and North Africa, a whole new generation of artists has blossomed. It is this flowering of artistic expression that has led to a decrease in censorship and brought international recognition to the abundant diversity of contemporary Muslim music. Stanford Live’s Islamic Voices series will celebrate this diversity by presenting an array of artists and thinkers who challenge stereotypes of a one-dimensional Muslim culture. On October 13, the hip-hop scholar, performer and author Su’ad Abdul-Khabeer moderates an open conversation with the Stanford community about black Muslim womanhood in America. On October 14, Stanford professor Sammy Alim moderates a panel and hip-hop performance with performers Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, Mark Gonzales and The Narcicyst. And on October 17, best-selling writer and cultural commentator Reza Aslan joins KQED's Umbreen Bhatti (host of the Abbasi Program's Kaleidoscope podcast) for a public talk on Islam and the arts. For more information on Mathlouthi’s performance and the Islamic Voices series, visit live.stanford.edu.
LIVE CONTEXT: ART + IDEAS Now in its third year, Live Context: Art + Ideas embraces Stanford University’s rich intellectual and creative culture, bringing together artists, innovators and thinkers with leading minds at Stanford and beyond. The Live Context series continues in the spring with Imagining the West. Signature events include The Colorado, a new music-based documentary that explores the Colorado River Basin through live performances of new compositions; a family concert with the Grammy–winning Okee Dokee Brothers; and a conversation with Stanford faculty and National Geographic’s Peter McBride
TICKETS Tickets for Emel Mathlouthi, presented by Stanford Live on October 5, range from $30-$65 for adults (subject to change) and are $15 for all current Stanford students. Tickets are available at the Bing Concert Hall Ticket Office, by phone at 650-724-2464 or online at live.stanford.edu.
2 VENUE INFORMATION Bing Concert Hall is located on the Stanford University campus at 327 Lasuen Street on the corner of Lasuen and Campus Dr. Parking on campus is free of charge after 4:00 PM and on weekends at all times, and may be found in the Galvez Lot across Campus Drive from Bing Concert Hall.
ABOUT STANFORD LIVE Stanford Live presents a wide range of the finest performances from around the world fostering a vibrant learning community and providing distinctive experiences through the performing arts. With its home at Bing Concert Hall, Stanford Live is simultaneously a public square, a sanctuary and a lab, drawing on the breadth and depth of Stanford University to connect performance to the significant issues, ideas and discoveries of our time.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
What: Emel Mathlouthi When: Wednesday, October 5, 7:30 p.m. (pre-show talk at 6:30 p.m. with Professors Ramzi Salti and Joel Beinin) Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford University Tickets: $30-$65
Description: A firebrand voice of the Arab Spring protests, Emel Mathlouthi earned the title “the voice of Tunisian revolution” with her 2007 recording Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free). ______
What: Chai Chat with Su'ad Abdul-Khabeer When: Thursday, October 13, 4:00 p.m. Where: The Markaz: Resource Center, 514 Lasuen Mall, Stanford University Tickets: Free
Description: Su’ad Abdul-Khabeer—hip hop scholar, performer, and author of the forthcoming book Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, Hip Hop in the United States—moderates an open conversation with Stanford community about black Muslim womanhood in America. ______
What: Hip-Hop, Street Art, and the Muslim Cool When: Fri, October 14, 5:30pm Where: McMurtry Building, Oshman Hall, 355 Roth Way, Stanford University Tickets: Free
Description: Part panel conversation, part hip-hop performance, this event explores forms of cultural expression that push back against dominant ideas about Muslim identity. Moderated by Prof. Sammy Alim with performers Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, Mark Gonzales, and The Narcicyst. ______
What: Public Talk: Reza Aslan on Islam and the Arts When: Monday, October 17, 6:00 p.m. Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford University Tickets: Free
Description: Best-selling writer and cultural commentator Reza Aslan joins KQED's Umbreen Bhatti (host of the Abbasi Program's Kaleidoscope podcast) to explore current American relations with the wider Muslim world and opportunities that the arts offer for bridging perspectives.
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