Austrian-Iranian Symphonic Orchestra to Honor Tanavoli

TEHRAN –(Iranart) he Austrian-Iranian Symphonic Orchestra (AISO) will perform in honor of acclaimed artist Parviz Tanavoli, at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on July 3 and 5.

The orchestra will perform three pieces produced by renowned Iranian musicians Christophe Rezai, Peyman Yazdanian and Maziar Yunesi who have created them especially to honor Tanavoli’s many years of artistic activity, Honaronline reported.

“This is the first time in Iran that a concert is being performed for an artist,” said Yunesi, who is the orchestra conductor.

A total of 63 instrumentalists will play at the event where Tanavoli will be present. “We have been in contact with Tanavoli during our rehearsals and made use of his suggestions as well,” Yunesi, 34, added.

The concerts have been organized in collaboration with the Pari Safa Music Foundation and Hermes Records, and will be performed simultaneously with the exhibition opening of a selection of Tanavoli’s artworks titled ‘Persian Lions’ at Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, 17 years after his last exhibition there.

Tanavoli, 79, is best known for his bronze sculptures inspired by calligraphy. He is a pioneer of the 1960s’ Saqqakhaneh movement, the neo-traditionalist movement which incorporates Iranian folk art and is seen as the first school of Iranian modern art.

In his six-decade career, his work has been exhibited across the globe including the Tate Modern in London; Grey Art Gallery in New York; the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum.

Founded in 2006 at Austrian Culture Forum in Tehran, AISO has so far performed in various events and attended many foreign festivals.

Vahdat Hall is located on Shahryar Blvd., Hafez St., south of Enqelab Ave.