Attar (also known as Shaikh Farid-Ud-Din, and Attar of Nishapur,) was born in 1145 in Nišapur, a city in the northeast region of Iran. Reliable information on Attar’s life is scarce, but what we do know for certain is that he was a pharmacist, a dispenser of remedies and interpreter of illnesses. Indeed, the name “Attar” means herbalist and perfume maker. Although information about his life and death is opaque and has been mythologized over the intervening centuries, at some point Attar traveled widely and met with several Sufi Masters. Legend has it that Rumi met Attar when he was child. Rumi who later became a beloved poet, repeatedly acknowledged Attar as his master, and the influence of Attar’s wisdom and style of writing is evident in his work. Attar lived for over seventy years and died a violent death in the massacre inflicted by the Mongols in 1221.

Sholeh Wolpé is an Iranian-born poet, playwright, and librettist. Her literary work includes seven collections of poetry, several plays, five books of translations and three anthologies, as well as texts and librettos for choir and opera. Her performances, solo or in collaboration with musicians and artists, have been hailed by audiences as mesmerizing. She has lived in Iran, Trinidad, and United Kingdom and presently divides her time between California and Barcelona.