Nanos Operetta was formed in the winter of 2001 by vocalist Ali Tabatabai and multi-instrumentalist Max Baloian. Using a wide array of Western and Eastern instruments and found percussion, Nanos Operetta incorporates elements of film music, modern chamber, minimalism, cartoon music, avant jazz, and cabaret into their unique observations of the human condition. Forgoing traditional song forms for more elaborately detailed extended pieces, the ensemble creates compositions that have more relation to the scoring of film, using recurring themes and motifs. Tabatabai creates a thematic bond and continuous narrative thread, breaking the overarching narrative into sung and spoken passages that move between the individual vignettes.

Nanos Operetta is Ali Tabatabai, Max Baloian, Phil Williams, Craig Demel, Robin Reynolds, and Jason Ditzian. The ensemble is based in the Bay Area. For more information, please visit their website at www.nanosoperetta.com.