The Book of Queens (Malekeh nâmeh) – A Three-Culture Musical Collaboration
About the Event
The Book of Queens – Legendary Women's Voices Across Europe, India and Iran

The Book of Queens (Malekeh nâmeh) brings together legendary women's voices from Europe, India and Iran, connecting stories of warriors, mystics, saints and poets across centuries.

At the heart of the work is a celebration of women and the many ways in which they have expressed and experienced love — carnal, sacred, forbidden and sacrificial.

Led by Persian-speaking opera singer Camille Bordet, this rare three-culture collaboration brings musicians from Iran, India and Europe together in a single artistic work built around improvisation and original composition.

The project creates a musical encounter between voices and instruments that have never shared a stage in this combination before.

Featuring Persian, Indian and European musical traditions, The Book of Queens explores how stories, poetry and musical expression can cross borders, centuries and cultural traditions.

A Meeting of Three Musical Cultures

The work brings together artists from three distinct cultural landscapes:

Iran
India
Europe

Rather than presenting these traditions separately, The Book of Queens brings them into a shared performance.

The result is a collaborative musical work shaped through improvisation, original composition, voice and instrumental traditions.

This meeting creates space for different musical languages to interact, respond to one another and form new combinations on stage.

Women's Voices Across Centuries

The concept of The Book of Queens centres on the voices of women whose stories and creative legacies have travelled through history.

The performance draws inspiration from women described as warriors, mystics, saints and poets, bringing their perspectives into a contemporary cross-cultural musical setting.

Their relationship with love forms a central thread, with the repertoire engaging with love in its many dimensions — from the carnal and sacred to the forbidden and sacrificial.

The work therefore connects historical voices with a present-day artistic collaboration.

Love in Its Many Forms

Love is explored in the performance not as a single emotion, but as a broad and complex human experience.

The work engages with different forms of love, including:

Carnal love
Sacred love
Forbidden love
Sacrificial love

By placing these themes alongside women's voices from different cultures and centuries, the performance creates an expansive musical and emotional landscape.

Camille Bordet – Direction and Voice

The project is led by Camille Bordet, a Persian-speaking opera singer, who serves as both director and vocalist.

Her role brings together the different strands of the collaboration, connecting the voices and instruments within the larger artistic vision of The Book of Queens.

The performance combines vocal expression with improvisational and compositional approaches, creating a shared space for the participating musicians.

Smita Bellur – Voice

Smita Bellur brings the tradition of Hindustani vocal music into the collaboration.

Her voice forms an important part of the Indian dimension of the project, creating a dialogue between Hindustani musical expression and the Persian and European traditions represented by the other performers.

Kode Khan Manganiyar – Kamaicha

Representing Rajasthan is Kode Khan Manganiyar, performing on the kamaicha, a string instrument strongly associated with Rajasthan's musical traditions.

His participation adds a distinct regional voice to the three-culture collaboration.

The kamaicha becomes part of the larger dialogue between Indian, Iranian and European instruments.

Madeleine Owen – Romantic Guitar

Madeleine Owen performs on Romantic Guitar, bringing the sound and character of the European instrumental tradition into the performance.

Her instrument forms another layer within the work's cross-cultural soundscape, interacting with vocals, percussion and Persian and Indian string instruments.

Maryam Tazhdeh – Tar

Maryam Tazhdeh performs on the tar, bringing the distinctive sound of Persian music into the collaboration.

Her performance contributes to the Iranian musical dimension of The Book of Queens and adds another texture to the ensemble's improvisational and compositional work.

Saeed Kamjoo – Kamancheh

Saeed Kamjoo performs on the kamancheh, another important element of the Persian musical palette represented in the project.

The kamancheh contributes expressive string textures to the ensemble while interacting with the Indian and European instruments.

Hamin Honari – Percussion

Hamin Honari brings percussion to the collaboration, performing on tombak and daf.

These instruments add rhythmic depth and movement to the performance, helping connect the different musical traditions through pulse, improvisation and ensemble interaction.

The Ensemble of Voices and Instruments

The full artist lineup includes:

Camille Bordet – Direction, Voice
Smita Bellur – Voice
Madeleine Owen – Romantic Guitar
Maryam Tazhdeh – Tar
Saeed Kamjoo – Kamancheh
Kode Khan Manganiyar – Kamaicha
Hamin Honari – Percussion, Tombak and Daf

Together, these artists create a seven-member artistic ensemble bringing together distinct vocal and instrumental traditions.

Improvisation and Original Composition

One of the defining features of The Book of Queens is its foundation in improvisation and original composition.

Rather than simply presenting established musical forms independently, the artists participate in a collaborative process where their traditions can interact and evolve within the performance.

Improvisation creates room for musical responses between voices and instruments, while original composition provides a shared framework for the work.

This combination makes the performance a meeting point between tradition and contemporary artistic collaboration.

A Rare Three-Culture Collaboration

The project is notable for bringing Iranian, Indian and European musicians together in one work.

The performers represent different musical histories, instruments and vocal traditions, yet they share the stage as one ensemble.

The result is a performance designed around cultural dialogue, artistic exchange and the discovery of connections between musical traditions.

Tribute to the Women of Rajasthan and Marwar

The Book of Queens was co-commissioned and co-produced by Jodhpur RIFF as a tribute to the women of Rajasthan and Marwar's history.

This connection gives the project a particular regional and historical dimension.

The broader exploration of women's voices across cultures is therefore linked to the histories and traditions of Rajasthan and Marwar, creating a bridge between international musical collaboration and regional heritage.

A Musical Journey Across Time and Place

The performance moves across centuries, cultures and musical traditions.

The stories and voices at its centre come from different historical and geographic contexts, while the ensemble itself brings together musicians from Europe, Iran and India.

This combination allows the performance to explore how music can connect experiences across boundaries of time, geography and language.

What to Expect
Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Experience musicians from Iran, India and Europe sharing one stage.

Women's Voices

Hear a musical work inspired by women represented as warriors, mystics, saints and poets across centuries.

Original Composition

Experience music created specifically for this collaboration.

Improvisation

Discover spontaneous musical interactions between voices and instruments from different traditions.

Persian and Indian Traditions

Hear instruments and vocal styles rooted in Persian and Indian musical cultures.

European Instrumental Tradition

Experience the sound of Romantic Guitar within the cross-cultural ensemble.

Rajasthani Musical Heritage

Hear the kamaicha performed by Rajasthan's Kode Khan Manganiyar.

An Intimate Artistic Experience

The Book of Queens is designed as more than a conventional concert.

The combination of storytelling, women's voices, original composition and improvisation creates an artistic experience that invites audiences to listen to different musical traditions in conversation with one another.

The performance brings together history, culture, poetry, voice and instrumental expression through a single collaborative work.

Event and Auditorium Guidelines

Guests must scan their ticket at the entrance for admission.

Strictly no latecomers will be permitted.

Children under 8 years are not allowed inside the event.

Re-entry is not permitted once an attendee exits.

Entry closes at the show start time, so guests are advised to arrive before the performance begins.

Food and Beverage Restrictions

Outside food and beverages are not allowed inside the auditorium, with the exception of water.

Guests should plan accordingly before entering the venue.

Prohibited Items

The following items are strictly prohibited inside the auditorium:

Carry bags
Eatables
Helmets
Laptops
Knives
Lighters
Matchboxes
Cigarettes
Firearms
Inflammable objects
Other prohibited or hazardous items

Guests are expected to comply with all auditorium security requirements.

Intoxication and Entry Restrictions

Patrons who are under the influence of alcohol or any other form of drugs will not be allowed inside the premises.

Management reserves the right to refuse entry based on these requirements.

Ticket Cancellation and Refund Policy

Tickets once purchased cannot be cancelled, exchanged or refunded.

Guests are advised to check all event details carefully before purchasing.

Ticket prices are also subject to change without prior notification.

Management Rights and Venue Policies

Decisions taken by the management shall be final and binding, and management reserves applicable rights.

The event is subject to all relevant venue rules and operational requirements.

Personal Belongings

Management is not responsible for personal belongings lost in the venue.

Guests are advised to keep their valuables secure throughout the event.

Gate Timing and Performance Timing

The timings specified on the tickets relate to the opening of the gates and not necessarily the commencement of the artist's performance.

Guests should note that alterations, delays, revisions or deviations in gate times may occur.

Such changes do not impose liability on the management as stated in the event terms.

Experience The Book of Queens

The Book of Queens (Malekeh nâmeh) is a rare artistic collaboration bringing together Europe, India and Iran through women's voices, live music, improvisation and original composition.

Led by Camille Bordet, the work connects the stories of warriors, mystics, saints and poets across centuries with themes of love in its many forms.

The ensemble features Smita Bellur, Madeleine Owen, Maryam Tazhdeh, Saeed Kamjoo, Kode Khan Manganiyar and Hamin Honari, creating a musical meeting point between Hindustani vocals, Persian instruments, Rajasthani heritage and European instrumental traditions.

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Jodhpur RIFF, the project also serves as a tribute to the women of Rajasthan and Marwar's history.

Guests should arrive before the show starts, as latecomers will not be admitted and re-entry is not permitted. Children under 8 are not allowed, outside food and beverages are prohibited except water, and tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-cancellable.

Come witness voices and instruments from three cultural worlds meeting on a single stage in The Book of Queens.