This episode of "Live from Med City" was recorded in the historic Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester’s “Heart of the City” district. A special audience-less performance and interview from the Minneapolis based Chinese/Syrian music ensemble Gao Hong & Issam Rafea.

Their music sounds both ancient and strikingly modern at the same time. It is neither Chinese nor Arabic, but something fresh and new that only they can produce. Both the Arabic lute, the oud (played by Issam Rafea), and the Chinese four-stringed lute, the pipa (played by Gao Hong), originated from the same ancient instrument - the Persian barbat. Though the pipa has been altered considerably though out its 2000-year history, it originally resembled the 5,000-year old oud and is thought to have been introduced to China through the Silk Road. Since they only play improvisations, no two performances are ever exactly the same, and the duo often creates instantaneous site-and audience-specific pieces to describe their immediate feelings and honor their audiences.

Rochester Civic Music, the City of Rochester's music department, presents "Live from Med City", the online video digest for all things arts and entertainment in Rochester, MN. The "Live from Med City" concept was conceived with the objective of spotlighting the many “live arts experiences” Rochester has to offer, featuring artists from around the block and from all over the world, and filmed in some of its finest and most unique venues.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.