Exotic Tales

Inspired by the colorful symphonic masterpiece “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the Cape Symphony will reimagine the beloved art of storytelling, our deepening interest in the rich culture of the Middle East, and the endless strength and intellect of the female spirit.

“Scheherazade" is a symphonic suite based on the tales from One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights, a collection of stories that include the adventures of Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor. This classic favorite is famous for big, bold sonic colors and sweeping melodies, and features the violin as the imaginative Scheherazade herself.

The Cape Symphony collaborates with the renowned public radio program The Moth for the very first time. We will partner to create a modern-day storytelling experience about hope, survival, and the power of imagination. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth, produced in Woods Hole and New York City, has presented thousands of stories told in front of live audiences around the country. Many of us are familiar with The Moth through the Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour, which airs on over 500 stations nationwide including our own CAI, and The Moth Podcast.

Our Moth storyteller will be award-winning writer Wang Ping. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, Ping was born in Shanghai, China. She will share how she survived the oppression of the Chinese cultural revolution and discovered beauty and hope through the stories and music of another world. Ping will be accompanied by the Cape Symphony performing an original score by Chinese-American composer Laura Fan.

The Cape Symphony has also commissioned the Iranian composer Niloufar Shiri to create a new and updated “Scheherazade” story with roots in authentic and traditional Persian music. Niloufar will perform on the Kamancheh, a traditional Iranian string instrument, and will be writing music that is inspired by ancient melodies that are thousands of years old.