NPR
After U.S. Immigration Battle,
Musician Kayhan Kalhor Returns To Iran
Kayhan Kalhor (53), Iranian Kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music, at his hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October, 2017.
Kayhan Kalhor (53), Iranian Kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music, plays for NPR journalist Anastasia Tsioulcas, at his hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October, 2017.
Kayhan Kalhor (53), Iranian Kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music, poses with his Kamancheh at his hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October, 2017.
The instrument case of Kayhan Kalhor's (53), Iranian Kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October, 2017.
written by Anastasia Tsioulcas
When Kayhan Kalhor first left Iran, at age 17, he walked — more than 2,500 miles, to Italy. He carried only two items with him: a small backpack and his main musical instrument, the kamancheh.
This was during the Iranian Revolution. Kalhor was the only one of his family — who are of Kurdish descent — to leave the country. His parents, fearing the worst for him, decided there was no other choice. They stayed behind, along with Kalhor's beloved brother.