From Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15, Berlin’s concert calendar moves between club-scale electronic lineups, indie bills and formal halls. The standout trip is on the window’s opening night: Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma brings his ensemble to Pierre Boulez Saal on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 pm, as part of the first West-Eastern Divan Festival. The programme is announced as a set of traditional and new works, and its personnel give the evening a clear identity before a note is played: this is an oud-centred band built around close listening, instrumental colour and musicians whose roles are individually named on the bill.[1]

An oud-led ensemble with room to breathe

Shamma’s ensemble places the oud alongside Giorgos Manolakis on bouzouki, Carlos Piñana on flamenco guitar, Zied Zouari on violin, Farah Fersi on qanun, Derya Türkan on lyra, Yazan Alsabbagh on clarinet, Hussein Zahawy on daf and Jorge Bezerra on percussion. That arrangement is the reason to choose this date. The combination puts plucked strings, bowed lines, breath, frame drum and hand percussion in active relation, offering a concert shaped by timbre and ensemble exchange instead of a standard solo recital with accompaniment. Pierre Boulez Saal has presented Shamma repeatedly since his 2017 debut there, while this appearance places him among an expanded group of collaborators.[1]

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Shamma’s instrument as a living repertoire

The oud is the centre of Shamma’s work, though his practice reaches beyond virtuoso display. His official site describes the eight-stringed oud as his signature instrument and documents ensemble performances that connect Iraqi maqam traditions with contemporary Arabic composition. His Arab Oud House project grew from a first branch at Cairo Opera House into an educational network focused on the oud and other Arabic instruments. That background lends weight to a Berlin concert featuring qanun, lyra, bouzouki and daf beside the oud: the evening arrives with an audible lineage of teaching, composition and collective performance behind it.[2][3]

Why Pierre Boulez Saal suits the scale

Pierre Boulez Saal is especially apt for this kind of gathering. The hall’s flexible seating setup is adapted to repertoire and ensemble size, and the venue describes its architecture and acoustics as providing clear sightlines and a strong listening experience throughout the room. For a nine-player programme, that proximity matters. The draw lies in being able to follow the handoff between a melodic phrase on oud, its answer on qanun or violin, and the rhythmic frame supplied by daf and percussion. The setting keeps attention on the band’s internal detail while retaining the ceremonial focus of a concert hall.[1][4]

Thursday’s practical route

Naseer Shamma & Ensemble begins at 7:30 pm on Thursday, November 12 at Pierre Boulez Saal, Französische Straße 33d, 10117 Berlin. The venue lists a 6:30 pm bar opening, 7 pm hall opening and an approximate 9:30 pm finish. U2 Hausvogteiplatz, U5 Museumsinsel, U6 Unter den Linden and Friedrichstraße S-Bahn/U-Bahn are among the nearby public-transport options listed by the hall. Tickets are offered in several price bands. Recheck the official Pierre Boulez Saal page before leaving for current ticket availability, access information and any schedule changes.[1]

These concerts happened on 12 November 2026

The next dates at these venues: Pierre Boulez Saal

Sources

  1. Naseer Shamma & Ensemble — Pierre Boulez Saal
  2. Naseer Shamma | Official Website — Naseer Shamma
  3. The Arab Oud House — Naseer Shamma
  4. Pierre Boulez Saal Season 2026–27 — Pierre Boulez Saal