Iran’s classical music gets kudos in St. Petersburg
Iranian musician Khashayar Parsa and his ensemble presented a compelling, contemporary interpretation of classical Persian music at the historic Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg during DairaFest on October 26, 2025.
Their performance brought the ancient Maktab-e Montazemiyeh school vividly to life, guiding listeners from the soundscapes of medieval Persia through the Qajar era to modern reinterpretations, IRNA reported.
The ensemble’s journey began earlier in the festival, on October 19, when they performed music of the Qajar period, featuring works by Darvish Khan and songs by singer Taherzadeh, in one of St. Petersburg’s historic venues. Instrumentalists included three-Tar (long-necked lute) player Hedayat Kalari, Kamancheh (an Iranian spiked fiddle) artist Alireza Rasouli and vocalist Mehdi Shahsavar.
During the October 26 show, Parsa performed on Santur (hammered dulcimer) and conducted an ensemble featuring oud player Abuzar Hosseini (also composer), Tar player Mohammad Mehdi Sheikh, Kamancheh player Arman Heidarian and Tonbak (Iranian goblet drum) artist Hossein Gazer. Vocalists Ahmad Shakouri and Neda Shahsavar joined to offer a layered aural experience of multi-voiced Persian classical music.
Parsa described the project as an attempt to present Iranian classical music not merely as “historical heritage” but as a “living language of cross-cultural dialogue.” He said the collaboration with DairaFest over the past two years has “built a bridge” between Iranian and Russian artists.
The overwhelming sell-out two days in advance confirmed the strong interest among Russian audiences in Persian classical music. According to festival organizers, the ensemble’s performance offered a fresh, contemporary voice rooted in ancient tradition.