Heroes Take Their Stands

Heroes Take Their Stands (2019) is a multimedia theatrical production by the Silkroad Ensemble, led by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. It explores the concept of heroism across cultures and time, reimagining heroic narratives from around the world through music, storytelling, and visual art. The performance is a collaboration between composers, performers, and visual artists, all working together to tell stories of resistance, resilience, and moral courage.

Performed at UCSB Arts & Lectures, Cal Performances, UC Berkeley, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

“Spectacular” – San Francisco Classical Voice

[Rahmanian’s] “visual narrative was a delightful counterpart to the inspiring music of Kayhan Kalhor… An uplifting inspiration at the heart of this Silkroad Ensemble project.” – The Berkely Daily Planet

As part of the five pieces that make up Heroes Take Their Stands, Prince of Sorrows was a collaboration by Rahmanian and Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor (digital animation and live music, 20 minutes)

Hamid Rahmanian/Designer and Director 
Kayhan Kalhor/Composer
Qmars Kamali/Animation
Syd Fini/Illustrator
Mohsen Ebadi/Calligrapher
A production of Fictionville Studio

Recorded music by
Navid Afghah, tombak
Siamak Jahangiri, nay
Amir Mardaneh, vocals
Additional music and arrangements by Ljova

Human societies have used folklore and tradition as means of sharing, reinforcing, and perpetuating values, and conveying deeply held moral and ethical norms. The protagonists we encounter in the suite of five performances which comprise Heroes Take Their Stands were not born heroes. None of them are superior to humankind, nor are they deities or superheroes. They are normal individuals who choose to act or react in ways that spare others’ lives or right profound injustices — and their acts offer enduring inspiration for us all. The decisions they make at these crucial moments in their lives — to do the right thing, to do the just thing, regardless of the personal consequences — is what makes them heroes. Their examples demonstrate that each of us is born with a capacity for heroism — and that it is up to each of us to choose to act, to take our stand.

- Ahmad Sadri, Creator of Heroes Take Their Stands