Issam Rafea & Gao Hong Concert @ NYM Cultural Center November 5, 2020
New York Mills, MN—October 27, 2020—The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center will host its first “adapted in-person” concert at the NYM Regional Cultural Center on Thursday, November 5th at 7:00 p.m. with a concert by Issam Rafea and Gao Hong.
This duo combines Syrian oud master Issam Rafea with Chinese pipa master Gao Hong – unlikely partners due to the dramatic differences in their musical traditions. They perform live improvisations blending Chinese and Arabic techniques.
Songlines called their collaboration “consistently engaging, deeply contemplative, and culturally resonant.” Since they never discuss what they will play in advance, no two performances are ever the same. Each concert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and audiences witness singular creations that come to life before their very eyes and ears – but are never to be repeated.
In May of 2018, Issam Rafea and Gao Hong released their debut album, Life As Is – the Blending of Ancient Souls from Syria and China. It made the first ballot for the 2019 Grammy Awards and was nominated for Best Instrumental Album and Best World Beat Album in the 2019 Independent Music Awards. It has been broadcast worldwide and appeared on numerous “top pick” lists including the #5 classical pick on Spotify for the week it was released.
The Cultural Center has adapted our programming due to COVID-19 to help keep our community safe by focusing on three types of events: virtual, outdoor and adapted in-person. This concert will be our first adapted in-person concert as the temperatures outside drop and outdoor options become limited. We also plan to offer a virtual option on our Facebook page @CCNYM (https://www.facebook.com/CCNYM/).
Tickets will be sold in groups to accommodate the largest number of people safely. Purchase tables for 2, 3, or 4 people each, with drinks and snacks included, or purchase a limited number of single tickets. To buy tickets, call 218-385-3339 or purchase online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/issam-rafea-and-gao-hong-concert-tickets-126482499561
COVID safety guidelines will be observed at this event, including spacing, masks, plexiglass screens, sanitizer, and limited attendees. If you are not well, please do not attend. Thank you for helping to keep our communities safe. Please contact us with any questions at 218-385-3339.
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is a rural hub for creativity, community vitality, and lifelong learning in the arts. We offer visitors intimate opportunities to encounter art and artists in our 80-seat concert listening room, two art galleries in a historic building, a gift store featuring local artists, an artist residency program, classes and workshops, a sculpture park, and a variety of opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Since our incorporation in 1990, we have been passionate about connecting people to artists and rich cultural experiences in rural Minnesota, celebrating the local and being a window to the world.
