Naseer Shamma at Dubai Opera: The Oud Between Millenary Roots and Contemporary Vision

Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma, world-renowned for his innovative evolution of the ancient instrument, comes to Dubai for a concert at Dubai Opera. Born in 1963 in Kut, on the Tigris River, Shamma studied from the age of 12 in Baghdad and graduated from the Academy of Music in 1987, continuing as a teacher. Shamma is recognized not only for his refined technique, but also for his creativity in redefining the classical oud. He has designed 8-string variations inspired by medieval manuscripts, broadening the instrument’s range. He has also developed an innovative method for one-handed players, making the oud accessible to musicians wounded in war. His music blends tradition and modernity: compositions such as Le Luth de Bagdad, Viaje de las Almas, Maqamat Ziryab intertwine classical Arabic music with Western influences, bringing the oud to the international stage, alongside symphonic ensembles and Jazz, Flamenco and World Music musicians. Shamma is not just a concert performer: he is the founder of the “Arabic Oud House”, the first school in the world entirely dedicated to the solo oud. Founded in Cairo in 1999 with branches also in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Alexandria and other cities, it has trained a generation of new virtuosos and created oud orchestras that play all over the world. The performance at the Dubai Opera will allow Middle Eastern and international audiences to listen to pieces created especially for the occasion, performed with traditional ouds and extended-register variants. It will be an immersive sound experience, capable of evoking ancient cultural landscapes and dialoguing with different sound shores.