Iranian artists upstage int’l musicians
Musicians from India, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan who performed at the second night of the 39th Fajr International Music Festival on February 13 could not attract as many audiences as Iranian vocalist Hojjat Ashrafzadeh did.
The program began at Vahdat Hall with all-female music group Nushe attracting the female audience of Tehran, ana.ir reported.
In Vahdat Hall, the first performance by the Indian Rajasthani ensemble, led by Rahis Bharti, failed to engage a considerable audience despite rhythmic and traditional Rajasthani music pieces.
Bharti expressed his desire for global harmony through music, emphasizing the unity of the musical community worldwide.
At Rudaki Hall, the international performances were not warmly received. The first section by Uzbek artist Abrar Zufarov, showcasing the cultural wedding repertoire ‘Nihar Ash,’ did not resonate well with the Iranian audience.
Following Zufarov, Tajik artist Sardar Suliev performed, blending traditional Tajik instruments and vocals. Suleev’s performance also struggled to attract the audience.
The highlight of the night emerged at the second section of the performances at Vahdat Hall when Iranian musician Hojjat Ashrafzadeh performed.
His performances including ‘To Nafasi’ and ‘Halam Khobe Ba To’ got the kudos.
Expressing gratitude to the audience, Ashrafzadeh stated, “It’s an honor to sing for my beloved family in this magnificent hall on the most romantic day. A mother is the only being worthy of worship after God, and tonight, I sing with love for my mother.”
Ashrafzadeh also highlighted the value of Iranian local music, taking the audience on a journey through various regions’ musical richness.
Before performing the local piece ‘Dorna,’ he paid homage to the late Mohammadreza Shajarian, recalling the track’s earlier performance in Shajarian’s album ‘Night, Silence, Desert.’
The 39th Fajr International Music Festival opened on February 12 and will run through February 17.
The event will be held in Tehran and 14 other provinces simultaneously. The seven venues in Tehran host more than 70 performances and over 330 stage performances will be held in 14 provinces including East Azerbaijan, Bushehr, Semnan, Fars, Golestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, North Khorasan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kerman, and Hormozgan.
Organized by the Music Office of the Deputy for Artistic Affairs of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the festival encompasses various sections such as the competitive (Barbad Award), non-competitive, and research sessions.