National Museum of Asian Art » Performances

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CANCELLED - Traversées – Constantinople and Ablaye Cissoko

This event is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a future season. Join ensemble Constantinople and griot Ablaye Cissoko for an evening of musical storytelling that blends traditions from Iran, Senegal, and beyond. The kora and setar, traditional string instruments from two different cultures, meet with vocals, double bass, and percussion. In this collaboration, these traditions merge as though they had always existed side by side. Constantinople and Cissoko’s music has been heard over one hundred times in various festivals and halls around the world. About Constantinople Constantinople aims to anchor music in the heart of our community and encourage cross-cultural exchange among artists from around the world. Since its founding, the ensemble has promoted the creation of works that incorporate diverse musical traditions, drawing a range from medieval manuscripts to contemporary aesthetics, from Mediterranean Europe to Eastern traditions and New World Baroque. About Ablaye Cissoko Kimintang Mahamadou… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Categories: Performances. After Five. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Stephanie Chou Performs with The Tong Man and The Curse of Quon Gwon

Experience two early Asian American–focused silent films with a live score by composer, saxophonist, and singer Stephanie Chou and her band. The Tong Man Sessue Hayakawa, the first Asian American actor to achieve fame in Hollywood, stars in this crime drama as a hit man for a Chinatown gang. His bosses order him to kill an opium smuggler impinging on their turf. The only problem is the smuggler is the father of the woman he loves. Hayakawa was known for his energetic, macho acting style, and his performance here doesn’t disappoint. Director: William Worthington. Country: United States. Released: 1919. Length: 58 min. Format: DCP. Silent with English intertitles. Restored by the Academy Film Archive through a generous grant from the estate of David Shepard, from material in the Blackhawk Films / Lobster collection.  The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West This romance is not only one of the earliest known Asian American films but also one of the few silent films made by a woman. In… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985848724994?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Films. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, May 3, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.