Month: March 2026

The most engrossing work was Threshold of Brightness, by composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh and librettist Lisa Flanagan

Michael Zwiebach – San Francisco Classical Voice

The San Francisco Classical Voice review of West Edge Opera’s Snapshot program highlights Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s Threshold of Brightness as one of the most compelling works in an evening devoted to bold new operatic voices. Created with librettist Lisa Flanagan and inspired by the life of Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad, the opera is praised for its nuanced vocal writing and layered emotional complexity, demonstrating a strong command of musical storytelling within a compact form. Presented as part of a workshop setting designed to develop new operas, the piece stands out for its depth, theatrical sensitivity, and ability to translate personal and historical themes into a vivid operatic language.

Read the article HERE

The Cello Museum’s NYWC spotlight highlights Iranian-American composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh, emphasizing her internationally recognized work and her contribution to contemporary cello repertoire through Cyclical Rabbits (2021). Inspired by Charline von Heyl’s reinterpretation of Primavera, the work explores themes of life and continuity through cyclical musical structures and evolving arpeggiations, combining extended cello techniques with a concept-driven, visually rooted artistic approach.

Read and Listen to the work HERE