It is always that first step — the first step outside, into life, toward one another.
The first step across boundaries, the first step to hear the first tones, to make music together, to listen.
The feeling that accompanies it is filled with a pounding heart, deep breaths, a pleasant nervousness.
Tension. Release. Expectation. Fulfilment — which, in the best case, turns out differently than expected.
And then comes a kind of redemption. Bliss.

Sofia is a guarantee that both the musical and the emotional sides of my listening are challenged and fulfilled.

This wonderful evening begins with the duo Labropoulou/Godard. And right away, the two of them draw me in.
This coming together, this respectful interaction, this back-and-forth movement between their different musical backgrounds is an impressive experience.
And at times, it sounds simply beautiful. My friends know that too much pleasant harmony can be too much for me — but here, the balance feels perfect.
It is these wonderfully simple melodies and what the two make out of them that fascinate me.

The second part of the evening captivates me just as much.
Tahereh, who amazes me every time I hear her, weaves together with Sofia a tapestry that is already beautiful to behold on its own.
And then Michel, with his serpent, moves across it with pure delight.
The dark, clear, expansive tone of this ancient instrument keeps sending me into reverie, evoking beautiful images within me; the kanun supports this feeling with its own wide and resonant sound.
Vast, rounded, sparsely covered mountain landscapes — where it scratches, hums, whistles, knocks — make me feel the cool wind that I sense within myself.
Beautiful.

At the end of the evening, I am left with a warm feeling of peace and understanding — something we all long for so deeply.

Michel Godard, Sofia Labropoulou & Tahereh Nourani
09. October 2025