In January 2026, a powerful musical collaboration brought together three internationally acclaimed artists in a moving tribute to the people of Iran. Pianist Aurélien Froissart, vocalist Cameron Shahbazi and cellist Camille Thomas performed Chera Rafti, meaning Why Did You Leave, in memory of the courageous Iranians who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom.
Premiered on 22 January 2026, the performance is more than a concert piece. It stands as an act of remembrance and solidarity. Dedicated to those who lost their lives in pursuit of liberty, the project carries a clear message: creation and unity stand against destruction and isolation, and light will always overcome darkness.
At the heart of the piece is the poetry of Simin Behbahani, one of Iran’s most celebrated literary voices. Her words in Chera Rafti express longing, grief and unanswered questions. The repeated refrain, Why did you leave me, why am I so restless, I long for your embrace, captures both personal sorrow and collective loss. The poem moves between despair and quiet resilience, reminding listeners that even in absence, memory and hope endure.
The original composition by Tahmoures Pournazeri provides a haunting and lyrical foundation, while the arrangement by Dimitri Weissenberg gives the work a chamber music intimacy that draws the audience inward. Cameron Shahbazi’s voice carries the emotional weight of the text with clarity and restraint, allowing the poetry to breathe. Aurélien Froissart’s piano lines are both delicate and resolute, while Camille Thomas’s cello adds warmth and depth, echoing the song’s undercurrent of mourning and strength.
Together, the trio creates a soundscape that feels both intimate and universal. The music does not shout. Instead, it invites reflection. Each phrase unfolds with intention, allowing space for grief, remembrance and ultimately hope.
The performance was filmed and recorded at Arpeggio Films Studio in Montreuil, Paris. Produced by Arpeggio Films and directed and edited by Julien Hanck, the project brought together a dedicated creative team, including cinematographers Bastien Mougeot and Julien Hanck, alongside a wider production crew who offered their skills in support of the initiative.
All members of this collaboration contributed their talents in the name of peace, freedom and a triumphant future. That spirit of generosity and unity is palpable throughout the performance. It transforms the piece from a simple musical interpretation into a statement of shared humanity.
Chera Rafti asks a question that cannot easily be answered. Why did you leave. Why must loss accompany the longing for change. Yet within its sorrow lies resolve. The repeated affirmation that light will overcome darkness is not presented as a slogan but as a quiet conviction.
In bringing poetry, music and memory together, Aurélien Froissart, Cameron Shahbazi and Camille Thomas have created a tribute that resonates far beyond the concert hall. It reminds us that art has the power to honour the past, to unite voices across borders and to keep hope alive even in the most difficult times.