31-year-old musician replaces 73-year-old conductor in Iran’s National Orchestra
Thirty-one-year-old musician Bardia Kiaras has succeeded veteran musician Farhad Fakhreddini as Iran’s National Orchestra conductor.
The appointment was announced by the National Orchestra’s Technical Council director Ali Torabi during a press conference on Sunday.
Sevety-three-year-old former conductor Fakhreddini, who had established the orchestra in 1998, resigned on July 13, 2009, following the Music Office’s decision to entrust the management of the orchestra to the Rudaki Foundation.
The decision was made after Fakhreddini refused to perform concerts scheduled for Tehran’s Vahdat Hall from June 18 to 20, 2009, when the result of the June 12 presidential election provoked protests in the city.
Fakhreddini had said that the situation was ‘incongruous for listening to music and performing concert’ in his reason for cancellation of the concerts.
The National Orchestra made its debut concert along with world-renowned Iranian vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian in 1998 as Fakhreddini led it in reminiscent works composed by Ali Tajvidi.
Fakhreddini led the orchestra in many concerts, which were warmly welcomed. He has also composed soundtracks for “Mrs. Ahu’s Husband”, “Night Nurse”, and several other films. He has also composed music for TV series “Sarbedaran”, “Avicenna”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Imam Ali (AS)” and “British Bag” and several other serials.
The new National Orchestra conductor Bardia Kiaras has previously led the Iranian Chamber Orchestra in December 2009 in its debut concert series entitled the Zero Degree Turn.
The National Orchestra is to resume rehearsals beginning December 22 after a hiatus of over one-year with new musicians in the orchestra, Kiaras said in the press conference.
Source: tehrantimes.com
