Category Archives: music and arts

Austria honored Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami with Decoration for Science and Art

Austria awarded Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art. The medal was established in 1960 to honor international figures for their outstanding achievements in the fields of science and arts.

During a ceremony held in Vienna Iranian director Kiarostami, molecular biologist Barbara Hohn and mathematician Bruno Buchberger received the Cross of Honor for Science and Art from Austria’s President, Heinz Fischer. Austrian poet Friederike Mayröcker received a Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria.

Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami receiving his Cross of Honor from Austria's President Heinz Fischer - Photo credit: Peter Lechner/HBF

Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami receiving his Cross of Honor from Austria’s President Heinz Fischer – Photo credit: Peter Lechner/HBF

Ceremony in Vienna, October 2014 - Photo credit: Peter Lechner/HBF

Ceremony in Vienna, October 2014 – Photo credit: Peter Lechner/HBF

Abbas Kiarostami was born in 1940 in Tehran and is one of the most important and famous Iranian film directors. The filmmaker was awarded in 1984 with the Golden Leopard in Locarno for “Where is the house of my friend?”. In 1997 he received the Palme d’Or in Cannes for “Taste of Cherry”, and the 1999 Grand Jury Prize in Venice for “The Wind Will Carry Us”. He is also a photographer, poet, painter and has staged operas. He has been decorated with several state medals, including France’s Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Sources: Tehran Times, bundespraesident.at (in German)

Mozart Medal holder Shajarian and Shahnaz ensemble to perform in London’s Appolo Hammersmith on October 26.

Mohammad Reza Shajarian

The world-renowned musician ensemble, Shahnaz, started its music tour at the Malmo Arena in Sweden on September 27.

Composer and tar virtuoso Majid Derakhshani, kamancheh virtuoso Saeed Farajpouri and several other musicians are accompanying Shajarian on this tour.

Shajarian is known as Iran’s contemporary traditional music legendary who has invented new string instruments dubbed Bam Sorahi, Saghar and Kereshmeh, designed for traditional Persian music.

The maestro, Shajarian, was honored with UNESCO’s Mozart Medal in 2006 and the 1999 prestigious Golden Picasso Medal.

http://iranfrontpage.com/news/cultures/music/2014/10/shahnaz-music-ensemble-go-stage-germany/

Art for Humanity WFP Exhibition in Iran

Art for Humanity

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) exhibition features 130 works by 100 prominent Iranian artists in painting and other fields of visual arts.

“This move can serve as a model for the artists in the other countries,” said UN representative, Garry Lewis, during the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

http://iranfrontpage.com/news/cultures/arts/2014/10/art-humanity-wfp-exhibition-opens-tehran/

Speaking at the ceremony, director of the center Abbas Sajjadi hoped to celebrate the end of hunger one day. “In our culture, helping others is a precious value that we have inherited.”

“The project began with 33 artists last year, but we are proud to have 100 artists this year,” she said, adding that the artworks have been priced by the artists themselves.

Gary Lewis also said that many steps need to be taken to eradicate hunger in the world. Sufficient food is being produced in the world, however there is still hunger not only in the poor countries but in the rich and developed ones, he said.

He added all the money raised in this exhibit will provide food for different individuals including Afghan nationals who are being supported by the country of Iran.

He thanked all the Iranian artists who have displayed their heart and compassion in their works.

Hossein Mahjubi, Jalal Shabahangi, Reza Bangiz, Mostafa Asadollahi, Mohammad Farnud and Sorush Sehhat attended the opening ceremony.

Nahid Aryan, Shima Esfandiari, Simin Ekrami, Minu Emami, Bahram Dabiri, Hamed Rashtian, Mohamamd Salahshur, Asal Fallah and Ario Farzi are among the participating artists in the exhibit.

Source: http://www.payvand.com/news/14/oct/1106.html

Iranian artists contribute to the efforts of the United Nations food agency to take on global hunger.

WFP-LOGO

Up to 100 Iranian artists are to sell their works at a charity event at Niavaran Cultural Center on Friday (October 17, 2014) to help the World Food Programme (WFP) with its efforts to ease global hunger, Khabaronline quoted Negar Gerami of the WFP as telling a news conference in Tehran.

“There is plenty of food to go around in the world,” she said, adding, “Our efforts are meant to reduce the number of people who go hungry to zero.”

She went on to say that Iran is not among countries that grapple with hunger, but that does not mean we can be indifferent to this global problem.

“October 16^th has been designated as World Food Day, and we at WFP make efforts to draw public attention to global measures to eliminate hunger,” she said, adding, “This year, works of art by Iranian artists are being used as a tool to raise public awareness. Around 100 artists have donated their works of art to be sold at the event. The proceeds will go to the WFP drive to take on world hunger.”

Parviz Kalantari, an Iranian painter, told the same news conference, “We need to stay clear of politics…. The Iranian people have always joined forces for charitable causes; still, efforts should be made to press home the fact that one should not be indifferent to global problems.”

Shokufeh Malek-Kiani, an Iranian photographer and an artistic consultant of the UN, said the number of artists who donated their works for the charity event, which features visual arts, has risen from 32 last year to around 100 this year.”

Source:
http://iranfrontpage.com/news/cultures/arts/2014/10/iranian-artists-organize-charity-event-help-hungry/

World-known Japanese composer Kitaro in Tehran, Iran

iran-kitaro-concert

Distinguished Japanese composer and instrumentalist Kitaro is in Tehran to stage concerts October 15-17.

“My heart is beating hard and I am so excited to see the audience in concerts,” Kitaro said on his arrival.

He also wished to have the opportunity to get acquainted with rich Persian music.

Former instrumentalists of Tehran Symphony Orchestra are to accompany the musician in the concerts.

A winner of a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award, Kitaro is regarded as a pioneer of New Age music. Kitaro has received fifteen Grammy Award nominations, winning once in 2000.

Source: http://iranfrontpage.com/news/cultures/music/2014/10/world-known-japanese-composer-kitaro-tehran/

Series: Iranian Handicraft and Art – Khatamkari

Khatam means incrustation in Persian and Khatamkari refers to incrustation work. It consists in the production of incrustation patterns (generally star shaped) with thin sticks of wood (ebony, teak, zizyphus, orange, rose), brass (golden parts) and camel bones (white parts). Ivory, gold or silver can also be used for collection objects.

Many objects can be decorated in this fashion, such as jewelry/decorative boxes, chessboards, pipes, desks, frames or some musical instruments. Khatam can also be used in Persian miniatures, making it a more attractive work of art. This craft was so popular in the court during the Safavid period that princes learned it at the same level of music or painting.

Based on techniques imported from China and improved by Persian know-how, khatam has existed for more than 700 years and is still practiced in Shiraz and Isfahan.

Original oriental polo painting in khatam frame. Photo credit iranreview.org

Original oriental polo painting in khatam frame. Photo credit iranreview.org

Photo credit islamoriente.com / iranreview.org

Photo credit islamoriente.com / iranreview.org

Source. IranReview

Series: Iranian Handicraft and Art – Painting

Oriental historian Basil Gray believes Iran “has offered a particularly unique [sic] art to the world which is excellent in its kind”.

Painting in Iran is thought to have reached a climax during the Tamerlane era when outstanding masters such as Kamaleddin Behzad gave birth to a new style of painting.

Qajarid paintings, for instance, are a combination of European influences and Safavid miniature schools of painting such as those introduced by Reza Abbasi. Masters such as Kamal-ol-molk, further pushed forward the European influence in Iran. It was during the Qajar era when “Teahouse painting” emerged.

Image credit iranreview.org

Image credit iranreview.org

Qajarid era painting, Iran - Nasereddin Shah in the mirror hall. Image credit iranreview.org

Qajarid era painting, Iran – Nasereddin Shah in the mirror hall. Image credit iranreview.org

Source: Iran Review

Iranian movie ‘The Pearl’ wins at Bucharest film festival after also winning the UNICEF award at the 2012 International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults

Iranian screen production The Pearl directed by Sirous Hassanpour has garnered award at the 2014 edition of Bucharest International Film Festival, Romania.

The award went to the film’s cinematography director Saed Nikzat for his particular way and gorgeous imagery used in the film.

Nikzat as a director of photography contributed to more than 20 short and feature films.

Produced by Iran’s Farabi Cinematic Foundation, The Pearl also competed in Damah Film Festival that took place in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 2 and 3, 2013.

The film chronicles the life of a pearl hunter, Karim, who is living in a little town of southern Iran. Karim who suffers from heart trouble, finds out that he needs an urgent surgery for the disease but he cannot afford it. His two children think that they have to grow up sooner than expected time to help their dad.

The movie won the UNICEF award at the 2012 International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults in Isfahan.
…
The report also says that the film portrays the finer aspects of human relationships and moral values with beautiful cinematic skills.

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Iranian-Film-Wins-Venice-Int-l-Film-Festival-Top-Award.htm

Tar virtuoso Jalil Shahnaz

Jalili Shahnaz was born in 1921 in Isfahan, Persia (Iran). Shahnaz studied under the supervision of Abdolhossein Shahnazi and Hossein Shahnaz and befriended ney player Hassan Kassai.^[2]

Persian classical vocalist Shajarian named his most recent musical group “Shahnaz” in honor of Masetro Shahnaz.^[4]

Jalil Shahnaz died in Tehran on 17 June 2013.

Works

“Atr Afshan” (tar solo, accompanied by Mohammad Esmaeili, tombak).
“Zaban-e tar” (tar solo, accompanied by Jahangir Malek, tombak).
“15 Pieces for Tar & Setar” (transcribed by Houshang Zarif). Soroud Publications, Tehran, 2000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalil_Shahnaz

Here is what Shajarian said about him on his commemoration ceremony

“I am glad to come together here again and to talk with the language of heart,” Shajarian said.

“I have been living with the voice of Shahnaz’s tar for years. When he performs it is as if he tells a story. All the motifs and words of his music are of the same nature and narrate a single subject,” he added.

“Few musicians I have seen are able to perform as illustratively as Shahnaz did. Shahnaz was the god of this job. With his instrument, he pictured everything,” he stated.

Shahnaz died at the age of 92 on June 17, 2013. Shajaran said during his funeral, “The master created love and passion inside me. I owe all my achievements to the voice of his tar. He is the only person who deserves the title of master [of tar playing]. Like Hafez, he is unrepeatable. With all respect to tar players, the book of Iranian tar playing should be closed after the death of Shahnaz.”

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/jun/1130.html

Related article:

Iranian vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian to receive France’s highest honor

TripAdvisor grants Certificate of Excellence to tomb of Persian Poet Hafez in Shiraz, Iran

TripAdvisor, a U.S. travel website that provides directory information and reviews of travel-related content, has granted a Certificate of Excellence to the tomb of Hafez in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, Fars Province.

Tomb of Persian poet Hafez in Shiraz, Iran
(photo by Amir Hussain Zolfaghary)

Hafez was a Persian mystic and poet. He was born sometime between the years 1310 and 1337 in Shiraz, Medieval Persia. John Payne, who has translated the Diwan Hafez, regards Hafez as the greatest poet of the world. His lyrical poems, known as ghazals, are noted for their beauty and bring to fruition the love, mysticism, and early Sufi themes that had long pervaded Persian poetry. Moreover, his poetry possessed elements of modern surrealism.

The official document is awarded to the historical site for its beautiful architecture, its impressive atmosphere and the good behavior of the staff, the director of the Fars Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department said in a press release on Friday.

Mosayyeb Amiri added that a poll conducted by the website introduces Hafezieh (tomb of Hafez) as one of the top historical sites in the world.

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/jul/1072.html

Ahmad Shamloo – awarded Iranian poet, writer and journalist

https://i0.wp.com/i1.ytimg.com/vi/_c9Fa-8F_wA/hqdefault.jpg

Ahmad Shamloo (Persian: احمد شاملو‎, also known under his pen name A. Bamdad (December 12, 1925 – July 24, 2000) was a Persian poet, writer, and journalist. Shamlou was arguably the most influential poet of modern Iran. His initial poetry was influenced by and in the tradition of Nima Youshij.

Shamlou has translated extensively from French to Persian and his own works are also translated into a number of languages.

His thirteen-volume Ketab-e Koucheh (The Book of Alley) is a major contribution in understanding the Iranian folklore beliefs and language. He also wrote fiction and Screenplays, contributing to children’s literature, and journalism.

Some of his books

The Forgotten Songs (1947)
Poems of Iron and Feelings (1953)
Blossoming in the Mist (1970)

Awards

Forooghe Farrokhzad Prize, 1973
Freedom of Expression Award given by Human Rights Watch, 1990
Stig Dagerman Prize, 1999
Free Word Award given by Poets of All Nations in Netherlands, 2000

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shamlou

2014 Tehran Art Auction grosses over $4 million

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Sohrab Sepehri’s untitled painting from his Tree Trunk series sold for 18 billion rials (about $550,000), setting a new auction record for an Iranian painting.

Another work by Sepehri, a 90×130 centimeter abstract painting, sold for 16 billion rials (over $485,000), fetching the second highest price at the auction.

Reza Derakhshani’s artwork “Hunting the Blue Sky” sold for 6 billion rials (over $180,000), three times the estimated price, making it the third highest selling lot at this year’s auction.

Other highlights of the sale included a calligraphy painting by Mohammad Ehsaii and a two-piece painting by Aidin Aghdashlu. A calligraphy painting by Nasrollah Afjeii and paintings by Kurosh Shishegaran, Parviz Kalantari, Farideh Lashaii, and Masud Arabshahi were also sold.

Tehran Auction Director Alireza Sami-Azar, who established the auction house in June 2012 to promote the economy of art in the country, said that the sale was beyond his expectations, which shows Iranians’ interest in art, and the creativity of the country’s artists.

Sohrab Sepehri - Untitled

Sohrab Sepehri – Untitled

Sohrab Sepehri - Untitled

Sohrab Sepehri – Untitled

Reza Derakhshani - Hunting the Blue Sky

Reza Derakhshani – Hunting the Blue Sky

Seyed Mohammad Ehsai - Love

Seyed Mohammad Ehsai – Love

Aydin Aghdashloo - from the Memories of Destruction series

Aydin Aghdashloo – from the Memories of Destruction series

Farideh Lashai - Untitled

Farideh Lashai – Untitled

Nasrollah Afjehei - Untitled

Nasrollah Afjehei – Untitled

Koorosh Shishegaran - Portrait

Koorosh Shishegaran – Portrait

Massoud Arabshahi - Untitled

Massoud Arabshahi – Untitled

Parviz Kalantari - Untitled

Parviz Kalantari – Untitled

Complete catalogue of the auction: Tehran Auction 2014

Source: Payvand News of Iran | 2014 Tehran Auction grosses over $4 million

Photos: young women and men decorating walls in Tehran

تزئین دیوارهای میدان صنعت

Christian Composer and Coductor Loris Tjeknavorian – one of the most celebrated cultural figures in Iran

Remarkable people with Iranian roots

Loris Tjeknavorian (also spelled Cheknavarian, Armenian: Լորիս Ճգնավորյան; Persian: لوریس چکناواریان‎, born 13 October 1937) is an Iranian composer and conductor. He is one of the most celebrated cultural figures in Armenia and Iran.
…
As a composer Tjeknavorian has written 6 operas, 5 symphonies, choral works (among them God is love, The Life of Christ, the oratorio Book of Revelation, and a requiem), chamber music, ballet music, piano and vocal works, concerti for piano, violin, guitar, cello and pipa (Chinese lute), as well as music for documentary and feature films.
…

Born in Borujerd, Iran in 1937 to immigrant Armenian parents, …
Following this fruitful period of education, Tjeknavorian went back to Iran in 1961, where he taught music theory at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he was appointed director of Tehran’s Music Archives and put in charge of…

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Tehran, Iran Roudaki Opera House aka Vahdat Hall

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Tehran, Iran Roudaki Opera House aka as Vahdat Hall

Tehran, Iran Roudaki Opera House aka as Vahdat Hall

Vahdat Hall or Talar-e Vahdat (built 1967) is an opera house in Tehran, Iran. Architect Aftandilian designed the building, partly modelled after the Vienna State Opera. Prior to 1979 it was known as Talar-e Rudaki. Among the performances: Dundee Repertory Theatre, Mohammad Esmaili, Parvaz Homay, Leningrad Ballet, Marcel Marceau, Bagher Moazen, Gorgin Mousissian’s choir, Nour Ensemble, Pari Samar in Carmen, Tehran Symphony, Loris Tjeknavorian, Peyman Yazdanian. Other events in the space have included the Tehran Art Expo.^[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahdat_Hall

Tomb of famous poet Hafez II

Shiraz, Iran -Tomb of Hafez

Shiraz, Iran -Tomb of Hafez

Iranian artist Mohammadreza Javadinasab – master of caligraphy

The Iranian artist Mohammadreza Javadinasab has recently created a number of calligraphic paintings on some Iranian percussion instruments called daf. The collection, which comprises 30 works, is scheduled to be showcased in an exhibition, which will open at the Panjareh Gallery in Tehran on May 2.

A calligraphic painting by Mohammadreza Javadinasab depicting a poem by Rumi

A calligraphic painting by Mohammadreza Javadinasab depicting a poem by Rumi

Javadinasab has been practicing the nastaliq style of calligraphy over the past 20 years and has held several exhibits.

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/apr/1166.html

Pharrell Williams – Happy (We are from Tehran).

Other interesting videos on Iran:
https://theotheriran.com/tag/video/

Iran to hold first Intl. Shakespeare conference October 23, 2014 in Tehran

Organized by the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, the University of Tehran, the conference will run from October 22 through October 23, 2014 in Tehran.
…

William Shakespeare is considered the world’s greatest playwright. He is survived by 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems.

His plays have been translated into every major living language and are frequently staged all around the globe.

Leading Shakespeare scholars as well as the admirers of the Bard will be attending the conference.

The event will be chaired by Dr. Maryam Beyad and Dr. Ismail Salami, the two Iranian Shakespeare scholars and professors at the University of Tehran.

http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/2014/04/15/iran-to-hold-first-intl-shakespeare-conference/

358652_Conference-Shakespeare Studies-University of Tehran

Fakhreddini and Sahbaii return to Iran’s National Orchestra and Tehran Symphony Orchestra

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Farhad Fakhreddini and Manuchehr Sahbaii have been hired to conduct Iran’s National Orchestra and the Tehran Symphony Orchestra (TSO), two ensembles, which were almost dismantled over the past five years.

Left: Tehran Symphony Orchestra Conductor Manuchehr Sahbaii
Right: Iran’s National Orchestra Conductor Farhad Fakhreddini

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/apr/1051.html

Female Pianist Dena Taherianfar awarded with the Bita Prize

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Stanford, California – In a ceremony held at Stanford University last Wednesday evening, March 12, 2014, global philanthropist and humanitarian Bita Daryabari awarded the First Annual Bita Prize for Young Persian Artists to acclaimed seventeen-year-old concert pianist Dena Taherianfar.

About Dena Taherianfar
Dena was born in Tehran, in November of 1996. She began taking lessons in piano when she was six years old. Her first teacher was Mrs. Shohreh J. Ghajar. Dena gave her debut concert in the renowned Roudaki Concert Hall of Tehran in 2008. At her teacher’s suggestion, Dena eventually moved to Vienna with her Mother (her father still in Iran) where she began to study piano with Prof. Stanislaw Tichonow at the Joseph Haydn Conservatory. She has won numerous national and international prizes. She performed at the Gala Concert in the House of “Music House” in Vienna and won two first prizes in the Austrian Youth Competitions “Prima La Musica.” She has also won first prizes in the International Competition “Concours Flame 2011” in Paris, “Valsesia Musica 2012” in Italy, and the “21st Century Art 2013” in Vienna.

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/mar/1144.html

Vigen or Viguen: popular Armenian-Iranian artist

Vigen, born Vigen Derderian (November 23, 1929 – October 26, 2003), known as “Sultan of Pop” and “Sultan of Persian jazz”, was an immensely popular Iranian pop music singer and actor, well known throughout the Near East.

Vigen’s innovative and upbeat style of music had a great influence on paving the way for a new genre of Iranian music, influenced by Western European and Latin American styles.

Among his notable songs are Chera nemiraghsi? (Why you are not dancing?), Mahtab (Moonlight), Lala’ee (Lullaby), and Zane Irooni take (Iranian woman is unique). Ref: Wikipedia

Loris Tjeknavorian: Armenian-Iranian composer and holder of Iran’s “Top Medal of Art”

Tjeknavorian, Loris - Iranian composer and conductor - Foto by Arash Mirsepasi for Young Journalists Club Loris Tjeknavorian (also spelled Cheknavarian) is an Iranian-Armenian composer and conductor. He was born in 1937 in Borujerd in the province of Lorestan, southwestern Iran, and was educated in Tehran.

In the course of his career, Tjeknavarian has made about 100 recordings (with RCA, Philips, EMI, ASV, etc.) and written more than 75 compositions (symphonies, operas, a requiem, chamber music, concerto for piano, violin, guitar, cello and pipa (Chinese lute), ballet music, choral works and an oratorio. And over 45 Film mosaics.

Tjeknavarian also has conducted international orchestras throughout the world: in Austria, UK, US, Canada, Hungary, Iran, Finland, former USSR, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, etc. In October 2010 he became the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra in Southern California. Glenn Treibitz, president of the Glendale Symphony said; “with Loris Tjeknavorian at the helm, our orchestra will automatically become one of the most prominent in the Western USA.”

Awards
– Austria’s Presidential Gold Medal of Artistic Merit (2008)
– Austria’s Cross of Honor for Science and Art, first class (2008)
– Awarded “Top Medal of Art”, Iran’s highest medal for performing arts (2002)

Sources: Wikipedia | Loris Tjeknavorian

Marcos Grigorian – Armenian-Iranian artist and a pioneer of Iranian modern art

Marcos Grigorian (December 5, 1925 – August 27, 2007) was a notable Iranian-Armenian artist and a pioneer of Iranian modern art. In 1975 Grigorian helped organize the group of free painters and sculptors in Tehran and was one of its founder members. Artists Gholamhossein Nami, Massoud Arabshahi, Morteza Momayez and Faramarz Pilaram were amongst the other members of the group.

Grigorian was a trend setter in experimenting with Earth Art, in Iran. Some of his works are now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kerman, and the National Gallery of Armenia. Ref. Wikipedia, iranicaonline.org

Fajr International Music Festival announces winners

Read about the winners here:

http://www.payvand.com/news/14/feb/1154.html

Spanish cartoonist wins Golden Tooba at Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran

Spanish cartoonist David Vela Cervera won the Golden Tooba (Tree of Heaven) in the cartoon section at the 6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts.

Six Iranian artists received the Lifetime Achievement Award: Illustrator Gholamali Maktabi, graphic designer Ebrahim Haqiqi, miniaturist Mohammad-Baqer Aqamiri, cartoonist Javad Alizadeh, sculptor Taher Sheikholhokamaii and painter Iraj Eskandari.

David Vela Cervera was born in 1967 in Zaragoza, Spain. He graduated at the University of Zaragoza, with the degree of Doctor in Spanish Philology specializing in the graphic illustration of the first third of the 20th century. He is working as a freelance artist concentrated mainly to illustrations and creations of cartoons. David Vela participated at many international cartoon competitions winning won various prizes and mentions.

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 06 - Exhibition - (jamaran.ir)

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 03 - Exhibition - (jamaran.ir)

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 04 - Exhibition - (jamaran.ir)

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 05 - Exhibition - (jamaran.ir)

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 01 - Winners

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 00 - Winners - (IRNA)

6th Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts in Iran - 02 - Poster - David Vela, Spain - Picasso vs. Dali

Source: Payvand Iran News, Cartoon Gallery | David Vela, jamaran.ir

A possible revival of Tehran’s and Iran’s National Symphony Orchestras

WASHINGTON — Alexander Rahbari fondly recalls his last stint conducting the Tehran Symphony Orchestra. It was the fall of 2005, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was on the card, and the Iranian capital’s Vahdat Hall was packed.

“I conducted Beethoven’s Ninth in Tehran for seven nights. If I said I conducted the Ninth for seven nights in New York or Austria, I would be asked if there was anyone in the audience — after two nights the hall would be empty,” Rahbari said.

“But [in Tehran] it was full — so many people came. Later some newspapers complained that, after returning to Iran after so many years, I conducted the symphony for only seven nights.” […]

In 2012, the funding problems that Rahbari and his successors complained about silenced the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, whose roots dating back to the 1930s made it one of the oldest in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iran’s National Orchestra, founded by Iranian-born composer and conductor Farhad Fakhreddini in 1998, suffered similar difficulties. Fakhreddini himself resigned in 1999, and the orchestra that performed only classical Iranian music dissolved in October 2012. […]

The election of President Hassan Rohani in 2013 has provided a glimmer of hope for the country’s orchestra scene, however.

“I’m very sorry that the [Tehran] Symphony Orchestra and the National Orchestra have been shut down,” Rohani said in a January 8 speech to artists and cultural figures. “This government will revive them in the coming months.” […]

Iran’s culture minister, Ali Jannati, added to the optimism when he said at the Fajr International Music Festival last week that the government aims to strengthen Music.

Tara Kamangar, “world-class musician”

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http://www.taraartemis.com/#!/biography

“Pianist Tara Kamangar has been praised as a “huge talent” (London Evening Standard) and a “world-class musician who excels at blending the best of Western and Middle-Eastern compositions”

Playing a fine piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmH6JxEiIu8

Salome MC – Iran’s first female rapper

Salome Mc (Persian: سالومه, born 1985), is a female rap artist from Iran.^[1]

…

Being questioned about being a female rapper in Iran, she mentioned in several interviews that she wouldn’t say she faced many challenges just because she was a female. “I might be the first female rapper to ever step in a studio in Iran, yes, but from people around me I mostly got courage after they got over the surprise. The other challenges that you might guess was there for my male counterparts too. Of course you get a certain amount of sexist comments from lack of common sense or education, but that is a global problem. “^[5]

female iranian rapper

female iranian rapper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salome_MC

Iran from Viewpoint of a Japanese Pianist

“Now, when I go over my memories of that exceptional trip after having stayed in Iran for a few days, I see that the most prominent part of those memories is warm and honest treatment as well as the hospitality of the Iranian people. Everybody there hails you with a polite smile. I, having been born in a country where respectful treatment of others is of high importance, was in a good position to appreciate the respectful treatment of the Iranian people.

What I saw from the Iranian people during my short trip [to that country] was that they are always serene, well-mannered, and ready to offer all kinds of assistance and cooperation. I wondered why I didn’t know anything about the good and well-mannered people of Iran, who are very cultured and take pride in their culture and arts, before this trip?” –Noriko Ogawa

Pianist-Noriko-Ogawa-in-Tehran-7

Pianist-Noriko-Ogawa-in-Tehran-5

Noriko Ogawa is a Japanese pianist that traveled to Iran on an invitation extended to her by the Japanese Embassy in Tehran. She had musical performances in the cities of Tehran and Shiraz.

Read more at Payvand | Concert in Tehran: Iran from Viewpoint of a Japanese Pianist

“Iran-UK Sonics” at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Friday 13 December 2013

International arts consultancy Six Pillars announces the UK’s first sound art residency for Iranian artists and musicians.

Five emerging practitioners visit London for the first time from Iran on 9 December: Nasim Khorassani, Sepehr Haghighi, Nemo Ghasemi, Niloufar Em and Heckmat(t).

The two weeks intense preparation and technical workshops peak with the performance of “Iran-UK Sonics” at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Friday 13 December.

Fari Bradley of Six Pillars who is running this visionary project with Southbank Centre, LCC and Resonance104.4FM “After a public call out and in-depth selection process, we’ve a hugely varied group coming to exchange ideas with the UK. Our aim is to dialogue with Iran about experimental music, and make a difference in terms of frequently problematic cultural perceptions.

Sources:
– http://sixpillars.org/IranUK/
– http://www.payvand.com/news/13/dec/1000.html

Behruz Firuzi – Iranian cartoonist finishes first in Italian contest

Remarkable people with Iranian roots

The Iranian cartoonist Behruz Firuzi has won the first in the category satirical drawing at the 17th edition of the international competition Fax for Peace, Fax for Tolerance in Spilimbergo, Italy.

Other Iranian cartoonists Sohrab Kheiri and Parvin Mohammadi received honorable mention at the competition.

Peace, tolerance, fighting against any form of racism and the defense of human rights are the themes of the competition.

Sources:
– Gallery: http://www.faxforpeace.eu/?page_id=786
– http://www.payvand.com/news/13/dec/1009.html

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