Sad when music is such a no no.
Iran hardliners close concerts in challenge to president
Performances sabotaged to upset moderate regime as artists urge Hassan Rouhani to act against covert censors
Iran’s great master of Persian classical music, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, middle, has not been allowed to perform in Iran for a long time. Photograph: Kamran Jebreili/AP
Saeed Kamali Dehghan Iran correspondent
Thursday 3 December 2015 13.39 ESTLast modified on Thursday 3 December 201517.38 EST
Tehran's reborn symphony orchestra: an ovation before playing a note
Although it has become easier to perform music since Rouhani came to power, an increasing number of performances, including one byTehran’s reborn symphony orchestra, have been cancelled at the last minute after intervention from forces that remain unknown to the artists.
The cancellations are becoming a major challenge for the president, who is being urged to shift his attention to domestic issues after resolving the impasse over the country’s nuclear programme. Hardliners, unhappy with the way the nuclear accord boosted Rouhani’s status at home, are making sure he will have a tough time ahead in the remaining two years of his presidency.
In a recent incident, the Tehran symphony orchestra, which has been revived after a three-year hiatus and was last week due to perform the national anthem at the capital’s majestic Azadi stadium before a wrestling world cup competition, had to cancel because the authorities insisted 15 minutes before the programme that female musicians should not perform on the stage.
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Members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal. Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP
“I told them that this was unacceptable and did not allow the performance to go ahead,” its principal conductor, Ali (Alexander) Rahbari, told the Guardian. “We didn’t know who they were, or where they came from but they blocked our way even though we had permission. It’s complete chaos. You don’t know whose fault it was at the end.
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Iran hardliners close concerts in challenge to president?
Iran hardliners close concerts in challenge to president
Performances sabotaged to upset moderate regime as artists urge Hassan Rouhani to act against covert censors
Iran’s great master of Persian classical music, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, middle, has not been allowed to perform in Iran for a long time. Photograph: Kamran Jebreili/AP
Saeed Kamali Dehghan Iran correspondent
Thursday 3 December 2015 13.39 ESTLast modified on Thursday 3 December 201517.38 EST
Tehran's reborn symphony orchestra: an ovation before playing a note
Although it has become easier to perform music since Rouhani came to power, an increasing number of performances, including one byTehran’s reborn symphony orchestra, have been cancelled at the last minute after intervention from forces that remain unknown to the artists.
The cancellations are becoming a major challenge for the president, who is being urged to shift his attention to domestic issues after resolving the impasse over the country’s nuclear programme. Hardliners, unhappy with the way the nuclear accord boosted Rouhani’s status at home, are making sure he will have a tough time ahead in the remaining two years of his presidency.
In a recent incident, the Tehran symphony orchestra, which has been revived after a three-year hiatus and was last week due to perform the national anthem at the capital’s majestic Azadi stadium before a wrestling world cup competition, had to cancel because the authorities insisted 15 minutes before the programme that female musicians should not perform on the stage.
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Members of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal. Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP
“I told them that this was unacceptable and did not allow the performance to go ahead,” its principal conductor, Ali (Alexander) Rahbari, told the Guardian. “We didn’t know who they were, or where they came from but they blocked our way even though we had permission. It’s complete chaos. You don’t know whose fault it was at the end.
Continue reading at:
Iran hardliners close concerts in challenge to president?
