“A cultural worker of the highest order, Niloufar does the bravest work, transforming not only the society from which she comes, but help change the society in which she lives.”
photo credit: Jules Cisek 2018
“Niloufar Talebi has accomplished the ultimate magic trick in her clean and modern translation. She has made the work of modern Persian poets read like original English...an unparalleled contribution.”
“Poetry is a world art because of brilliant translators like Niloufar.”
“...A celebration of the recreative power of memory and language, from the girl standing in front of her blue bedroom window watching snow, to the many lessons of silence — Talebi’s ‘animal with two faces.’ Self-Portrait in Bloom is a book of longing, haunted by history.”
“Brilliant writers can have brilliant debuts. Elegiac and deep diving into the mind of a genius existentialist, Niloufar Talebi’s memoir, Self-Portrait in Bloom, is reminiscent of Sebald. This original work feels true to continuous life and disjointed memory — separate yet forced to be connected. This is a compelling book by a true writer.”
book signing at the Bay Area Book Festival 2019
“...brilliant, transparent translations of Shamlou’s works...soar with poetic subtlety.”
“A passionate defense of the crucial role translation plays in connecting the world, Self-Portrait in Bloom also tells the story of Niloufar Talebi’s courage in overcoming profound obstacles to bring her expert translations of world-class Iranian poet, Ahmad Shamlou, to new readers. A brave and remarkable feat.”
“Niloufar Talebi has written an original and intriguing memoir. Dispensing with linearity, shuttling between her Iranian childhood and her American coming of age, she moves nimbly up and back along the space-time axis. A loving and contemplative spirit compels these pages forward.”
Abraham in Flames opera, photo credit: Devlin Shand Photography 2019
“...an amazing achievement for everybody involved, and truly a worthy addition to the opera world.”
“[Abraham in Flames]...elusive but arresting new chamber opera by librettist and creator Niloufar Talebi and composer Aleksandra Vrebalov... ”
“...mysteriously irresistible.”
“Unique in concept and beautiful to witness, both musically and visually. It’s quite amazing what Niloufar has managed to accomplish.”
“Thank you for your defense of art in a troubled world, Niloufar.”
“Niloufar Talebi’s accomplishment in gathering the poetry of the Iranian diaspora is unprecedented and breathtaking. It is as if she has, by force of commitment and vision, and by way of cultural hunger, bequeathed a new literary heritage to Iran and the world. Here is a lyric symphony of utterance in the voices of exiles, immigrants, refugees, and expatriates. That Talebi assembled such an extraordinary collection is impressive enough—that she translated most of these poems herself is nothing short of remarkable.”
Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World at Poetry Festival 2009
“Ms. Talebi endowed these philosophical concepts with human characteristics...[in] elegant texts woven into four scenes featuring solo live voice.”
“Talebi offers us a new form of expression, a true reflection of a hybrid point of view, [making] an entire culture intelligible.”
“Librettist Niloufar Talebi, the theatrical visionary behind The Persian Rite of Spring, saw the focus of their [9/11] piece Fire Angels as a romance, rather than a John Adams-esque CNN song cycle...rather than retell the events themselves, [they] delve into their emotional cores...”
Niloufar performing The Persian Rite of Spring, credit: Afshin Javadi video 2010
“The oldest art form, storytelling, is on dazzling display in Niloufar Talebi’s electrifying and multidisciplinary wisdom. Niloufar masterfully captures the essence of ancient rituals and myths while infusing them with a thoroughly modern sensibility. The result, The Persian Rite of Spring, is a theatrical performance for all ages that will awaken even the most slumbering soul into a new beginning!”
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