ISLAMABAD: Deeply convinced that music can transcend borders and touch the sublime, French-Swiss piano virtuoso Joanna Goodale invited her listeners to enter in communion with sound and silence in a space-time of rare intensity when she performed live Sunday night.

Born into a British-Turkish family, Joanna Goodale is a French-Swiss pianist with an eclectic career, opening up the classical repertoire to sacred music of the Middle and Far East, through her interpretations and compositions.

To delve into her biography is like learning of her lifelong devotion to music. As a composer, she is known for her distinctive musical approach that blends classical Western music with Eastern influences, particularly inspired by Sufi music, Turkish folk melodies and sounds from nature.

Goodale often combines traditional piano repertoire with her own compositions and improvisations, creating a meditative and cross-cultural listening experience.

Sunday night she performed romantic grace in Marriott Hotel’s dimly lit grand ballroom.

She impressed her audience’s emotional tunes that had soundtrack like energy. Audiences demanded more with their applause and Joanna Goodale seemed to be moved by the energy too.

Her performance was sprinkled with valuable narrative throughout. Context about time and scene setting gave the listeners an understanding and additional pleasure.

Her collaboration with local artists on rubab, sitar and tabla, was in fine form, as they worked well and responded to her. Together they played with energy, emotion and obvious respect for music. Their collaboration was a tribute to the late qawwal Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024