‘Unveiling’ offers an evocative introduction to Sami Yusuf’s L’Amour: When Paths Meet Paris concert. Its cinematic feel and incorporation of modes and scales of both East and West give a dramatic glimpse of what is to come in this one of a kind musical event.

This shimmering kora solo by the illustrious musician, Ballaké Sissoko was performed at the L’Amour: When Paths Meet concert at the Philharmonie de Paris.

Simultaneously floating and rooted, the opening of Sami Yusuf’s composition ‘River of Paradise’ seduces its audience with hypnotic melodies and rhythms of the kora and classical guitar. As the performance unfolds, voices of the instruments assembled on stage seamlessly add to the meditative mood. This is music that speaks with one voice through the prisms of many cultures, embracing and illuminating us. Ballaké Sissoko on kora and Antoine Morinière on classical guitar deliver evocative solos, and Nabyla Maan joins Sami Yusuf in a stunning vocal performance. ‘River of Paradise’ is a composition by Sami Yusuf from the second of his When Paths Meet series. It features The Sami Yusuf Ensemble, The Scoring Orchestra of Paris, The Métaboles, and stellar soloists and specialist musicians in a stunning collaboration. Performed at the Philharmonie de Paris.

Inspired by François Couperin's ‘Musette from the Royal Concerts,’ Sami Yusuf’s composition explores unexpected intersections between diverse musical traditions. Following a brilliant interpretation of Couperin's work, Yusuf delves into the Azerbaijani Segah mugham, blending its lyrical phrasing and tonal system with the major scale of the Musette. This seamless shift highlights the shared interval of a third, creating a unique fusion. The piece features the enchanting kora of Ballaké Sissoko and mesmerising vocal solos by Sami Yusuf, Nabyla Maan, Eléonore Fourniau, and Ilyos Arabov, adding a transcendent dimension before returning to its Baroque roots. ‘Meditations on a Musette by Couperin,’ part of Yusuf’s When Paths Meet series, showcases The Sami Yusuf Ensemble, The Scoring Orchestra of Paris, The Métaboles, and other distinguished musicians. Performed at the Philharmonie de Paris, the piece features lyrics in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish, drawn from the poetry of Rumi, Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari, and Pir Sultan Abdal.

From the second in the When Paths Meet series performed at the Philharmonie de Paris. Sami Yusuf’s composition, ‘The Journey’, is a re-imagined arrangement of his earlier work by that title. Here, vibrant music traditions from China, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Europe tell the story of a journey across lands and cultures. Evocative instrumental solos featuring the erhu, balaban, oud, and guitar are interwoven with orchestral strings of the Scoring Orchestra of Paris and the vocalisations of The Métaboles. Lyrics by mystical poets Rumi, Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari, Pir Sultan Abdal, and Abi Sa’d al-Yafi’i are rendered in all their subtlety and nuance by renowned vocalists Sami Yusuf, Nabyla Maan, and Eléonore Fourniau. The result is a luminous work that resonates with timeless beauty.

Composer Sami Yusuf’s ‘L’Amour Vivant’ showcases his mastery of musical languages. The initial movement unfolds in Baroque style, a cherished inspiration from his London upbringing, featuring the subtle blend of Arabic baladi rhythm with a graceful melody. The second movement transports listeners to Yusuf's Central Asian Azerbaijani heritage, while the third revisits Baroque influences, seamlessly integrating Middle Eastern and Persian tonalities. The piece then introduces the meditative kora and the sensuous erhu before culminating in a final movement that beautifully encapsulates classical traditions. ‘L’Amour Vivant,’ from Yusuf’s When Paths Meet series, features The Sami Yusuf Ensemble, The Scoring Orchestra of Paris, The Métaboles, and other distinguished musicians in a remarkable classical crossover performance. Performed at the Paris Philharmonic, it exemplifies innovative musical fusion.