In conjunction with Cinema Mon Amour: Mark Morris and the world premiere of Mark Morris's Layla and Majnun at Cal Performances

Take part in a fascinating afternoon of activities offering a wider understanding of a story that has enchanted the peoples of the Middle East and Southeast Asia for more than 1,000 years. A tragic and ecstatic tale of unrequited love, the story of Layla and Majnun, in Mark Morris' words, ultimately conveys "a message of profound, abundant, eternal love." 

2 PM  Layla and Majnun 

Story reenactment by Golden Thread Productions accompanied by images from the diverse cultures that have cherished this story for more than 1,000 years, curated by Sanjyot Mehendale, lead scholar of the Silk Road Initiative, UC Berkeley. 

2:45 PM  Mutual Understanding: Making Art Together Across Cultures 

Artists from the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Silk Road Ensemble discuss their cross-cultural and cross-genre collaboration working to realize this production. 

4 PM  Universal Truths from a Story of Unrequited Love

Roundtable discussion with:

Aida Huseynova, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, author of Music of Azerbaijan: From Mugham to Opera 

Fateme Montazeri, UC Berkeley Department of Near Eastern Studies and Graduate Theological Union doctoral candidate 

Karen Barkey, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, Haas Distinguished Chair in Religious Diversity, UC Berkeley Department of Sociology