Hespèrion XXI
Ibn Battuta: The Traveller of Time
with Jordi Savall
Featuring Assaad Bouab, Waed Bouhassoun, Driss El Maloumi, Katerina Papadopoulou, Nedyalko Nedyalkov, Rajery, Maria Chiara Gallo, and Furio Zanasi.
For Ibn Battuta: The Traveller of Time, Savall assembles musicians from Europe and the Middle East, India, China and North Africa – alongside his own remarkable Hespèrion XXI early music ensemble – for a journey into the unknown with a man considered by many to be the greatest explorer in history: Ibn Battuta.
Born into a family of Islamic scholars in north Africa in the 14th century, Ibn Battuta travelled to the extremes of the world as it was then known, covering an estimated 120,000km from Europe to China, Russia to Sri Lanka. His writings provide fascinating glimpses into medieval life right across the globe. Savall’s evening-long excursion is an immense literary, historical, geographical and musical fresco that contrasts medieval European music with sounds from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Assaad Bouab (narrator)
Waed Bouhassoun (voice and oud)
Driss El Maloumi (voice and oud)
Katerina Papadopoulou (voice)
Nedyalko Nedyalkov (kaval)
Rajery (voice and valiha)
Maria Chiara Gallo (soprano)
Furio Zanasi (baritone)
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court
- Mon 17 March 2025
- The Barbican Hall
- 7:30pm
- From £15
Full Event Details
Journey into the unknown with musical pioneer Jordi Savall, his ensemble and guests, in a concert inspired by the 14th-century Islamic scholar Ibn Battuta.
For Ibn Battuta: The Traveller of Time, Savall assembles musicians from Europe and the Middle East, India, China and North Africa – alongside his own remarkable Hespèrion XXI early music ensemble – for a journey into the unknown with a man considered by many to be the greatest explorer in history: Ibn Battuta.
Born into a family of Islamic scholars in north Africa in the 14th century, Ibn Battuta travelled to the extremes of the world as it was then known, covering an estimated 120,000km from Europe to China, Russia to Sri Lanka. His writings provide fascinating glimpses into medieval life right across the globe. Savall’s evening-long excursion is an immense literary, historical, geographical and musical fresco that contrasts medieval European music with sounds from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Assaad Bouab (narrator)
Waed Bouhassoun (voice and oud)
Driss El Maloumi (voice and oud)
Katerina Papadopoulou (voice)
Nedyalko Nedyalkov (kaval)
Rajery (voice and valiha)
Maria Chiara Gallo (soprano)
Furio Zanasi (baritone)
Venue Details & Map
Location
The Barbican Hall
Barbican Centre Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Related upcoming events
Academy of Ancient Music
- Mon 16 December 2024
- Barbican Hall, London
- 7:00pm
- From £15
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court
Dunedin Consort
- Thu 6 March 2025
- Milton Court Concert Hall
- 7:30pm
- From £10
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court
- ➕1 other performance
Mahan Esfahani
- Sat 3 May 2025
- Milton Court Concert Hall
- 7:30pm
- From £15
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court
Il Pomo d'Oro
- Wed 7 May 2025
- The Barbican Hall
- 6:30pm
- From £20
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court
The English Concert
- Sun 11 May 2025
- The Barbican Hall
- 6:00pm
- From £15
- Barbican Centre & Milton Court