Tehran Symphony Orchestra Performs on the Sidelines of World Cup

TEHRAN. (Iranart) - On Tuesday, 19 June, and on the sidelines of the World Cup, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra put on its third and final performances at Kazan’s Salix Saydas Great Hall in Russia.

The program was in line with an agreement signed between Iran's Rudaki Foundation and Moscow Conservatory. The Tehran Symphony Orchestra, under the batons of Shahrdad Rohani and Fereidoun Shahbazian, staged three performances in honor of Iran’s national football team (also known as Team Melli) which is attending the 2018 World Cup in Russia in Group B. Many football fans attended the music event as well.

The orchestra went on stage on Thursday night in their first performance at the Bolshoi Zal (Grand Hall) of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia. The second night was at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory on Sunday night which was warmly received by both the Iranian and Russian audience. The last performance happened at Kazan’s Salix Saydas Great Hall on Tuesday night, where the Iranian national football team was scheduled to face Spain on Wednesday in the second game at the 2018 World Cup.

Before the program, managing director of Rudaki Foundation Ali Akbar Safipour said: I’m delighted to be here for the program’s third and final performances. Music events like this could help broaden cultural ties between Iran and Russia. Sardar Asmoun represents us here in your city and at the World Cup.

He added: Iran and Tatarstan have deep-seated cultural commonalities and there are signs everywhere. It’s important to contemporize these relations and the language of music could be one of the ways. Rudaki Foundation staged these programs to that end.

According to Safipour, the music programs were organized in collaboration with Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Iranian embassy in Russia, and cultural attaches in Moscow.

Also speaking, the deputy culture minister of Tatarstan said: We and Iran share various cultural commonalities. It got interesting as this happened at a time when the World Cup is also ongoing in Russia. I studied music and I can say with confidence that the organization of this particular concert was top-notch. I hope this event will help us expand the cultural relations between Iran and Tatarstan.