This programme showcases 32 years of chamber music by composer Zahra, tracing the evolution of a bold and unmistakable musical voice.

At its core are three compelling piano and clarinet duos: Mouse in the Machine (1992), Boiling Clouds (2018), and Catch My Breath (2023). The earliest work draws inspiration from Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique, while the later compositions reveal Zahra’s distinctive contemporary style — marked by rhythmic clusters, pulsating grooves, and raw, aggressive textures.

The programme also features a series of interdisciplinary works for piano and video, reflecting Zahra’s long-standing exploration of visual narrative in music. Since 2007, he has developed an aesthetic that fuses live performance with videography, creating immersive sound-and-image experiences where the video’s sound design becomes an integral part of the music.

Kafka’s Insect (2020) and A Story Left Untold (2024) expand the sonic landscape even further through the use of electronic backtracks, extending the piano’s expressive range beyond the keyboard and into an atmospheric, cinematic sound world.

A striking journey through innovation, texture, and multimedia storytelling, this programme offers audiences a powerful encounter with contemporary chamber music at its most adventurous.