Mark Morris Dance Group / Silkroad Ensemble — Layla and Majnun

Created by American choreographer Mark Morris in collaboration with Silkroad Ensemble, the musical collective founded by Yo-Yo Ma, and the British artist Howard Hodgkin, Layla and Majnun is based on the Azerbaijani opera by Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the story itself an ancient tragedy of Majnun (meaning “possessed”), driven mad over his love of Layla.

16 dancers tailor their movements to the improvised mugham music, sung by the celebrated father and daughter vocalists: Alim Qasimov and Fargana Qasimova. All backed by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, who perform on stage with traditional Asian instruments alongside Western strings and percussion.