Persepolis resounds with music, friendship as 1.2m tune in to Armenian orchestra
Tehran, Yerevan step into fresh phase of cultural ties: Minister
Iran and Armenia began a “new phase” of cultural relations, Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Reza Salehi Amiri said on Sunday, as the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its centenary with an open-air concert at Persepolis that drew 1.2 million online viewers within hours.
The historic performance on Saturday was staged beneath the ancient columns of the UNESCO World Heritage site near Shiraz. Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from 17 countries attended in person, IRNA reported.
Among them were envoys from Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Denmark, and Serbia, alongside representatives from Sri Lanka, Nigeria, South Korea, Italy, Norway, Germany, and two UNESCO officials.
“Their presence underscores the event’s significance as a celebration of friendship and cultural diplomacy,” Salehi Amiri said.
The orchestra’s 110 musicians opened with Iran’s national anthem before performing works including Aram Khachaturian’s ‘Symphony No. 2’ and the patriotic Iranian anthem ‘Ey Iran’. When Armenian artists performed ‘Ey Iran,’ the audience applauded for a full minute, celebrating the centuries-old cultural bond.
“The echoes of friendship between Iran and Armenia resounded through Persepolis,” Armenia's ambassador to Iran Grigor Hovhannisyan said. “Just as our ancestors offered tributes here millennia ago, today we bring the gift of music, history, and creativity.”
The concert site was approximately 50 meters below the Apadana terrace, framed by moonlight and artistic lighting that highlighted the stage. The setting evoked the Gate of All Nations, where 2,500 years ago, delegations from 23 nations with diverse cultures gathered to mark the New Year and express commitment to peace. Local Armenians joined the Iranian audience, creating a vivid display of shared cultural heritage.
“This gift of music is our modern tribute,” Hovhannisyan said. “It reflects our history, independence, creativity, and enduring existence. It is a unique beginning for future collaboration.”
Speeches followed from Fars Province Governor Hossein Ali Amiri, Salehi Amiri, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, and Iran’s Minister of Science. All emphasized music as a universal language of peace and cooperation.
“Civilizations endure through culture and knowledge, not the sword,” Salehi Amiri said.
Andreasyan described the performance as “a statement of universal values, peace, and peaceful coexistence among nations.” Governor Amiri called the concert a symbol of “peace, friendship, and solidarity” between nations.
The gathering brought together local and visiting Armenians, Iranian music enthusiasts, and cultural figures, from classical musicians to maestro Abdolhossein Mokhtabad.
Cultural cooperation between the two countries extends beyond performing arts. Salehi Amiri highlighted operational measures including national museum collaborations, handicrafts exhibitions in Tehran and Yerevan, and joint UNESCO submissions for tangible and intangible heritage, with restoration training programs planned shortly.
Iran exported $500 million in handicrafts in 2024, and Tehran has offered to restore Armenia’s Qajar-era Blue Mosque and develop joint tourism circuits. Tourist flows surged 53 percent in 2024, with 263,000 Armenians visiting Iran and 213,000 Iranians travelling to Armenia.
The Armenian orchestra last performed in Iran 25 years ago, staging Loris Tjeknavorian’s opera ‘Rostam and Sohrab’ in Tehran.
This centenary concert now sets the stage for continued cultural cooperation, joint festival registrations with UNESCO, including Tirgan, and strengthened tourism links, as both countries pursue a path of shared heritage and lasting friendship.