Ali Rahbari to echo Iranian music through Mariinsky Opera in Nowruz performance
The renowned Mariinsky Opera House in St. Petersburg will celebrate Nowruz, the ancient Persian new year, with the enchanting sounds of the Iranian music.
On March 21, 2025, the historic stage will host a special performance of ‘Parsian Concerto’ for two tars and symphony orchestra, composed by internationally acclaimed conductor and composer Ali Rahbari.
Rahbari has had about 20 collaborations with the Mariinsky Orchestra at the Mariinsky Opera and Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. In July 2022, Rahbari made his debut at the Mariinsky Theater and since then, he has been a regular on the Mariinsky stage.
Blending deep-rooted Persian melodies with orchestral grandeur, Parsian unfolds in three movements ‘Kereshmeh,’ ‘Luti Dance,’ and ‘Sarmast,’ the latter inspired by the iconic camel bell motif from master Abolhassan Saba. The piece, deeply rooted in traditional Iranian rhythms, is dedicated to renowned tar virtuoso Aydin Olyanasab, who will perform as a soloist alongside Mahsa Kharratian, bringing the soulful resonance of the tar to life against the backdrop of the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra.
This concert marks Rahbari’s third Nowruz program at the Mariinsky, where he serves as principal guest conductor under the legendary Valery Gergiev. Over the past four seasons, Rahbari has not only led masterful performances of Russian and international classical works but has also opened the doors of this prestigious venue to several Iranian artists.
The Mariinsky stage has previously spotlighted tenor Reza Fekri in ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra,’ violinist Amin Ghaffari performing ‘Noheh-Khan Concerto,’ and composer Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour with his ‘Persian Echoes’ harp concerto, all under Rahbari’s baton.
With a rich legacy of hosting masterpieces by the likes of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich, the Mariinsky Opera once again bridges cultures, this time resonating with the timeless beauty of Iranian classical music in honor of Nowruz.
Rahbari has conducted over 120 orchestras worldwide, including Orchestra della Svizzera Romanda, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Orchestre National de France, French Chamber Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and Prague Symphony Orchestra.