Report from Paris by Darius
KADIVAR
Author and Monika Jalili ©Reza Jalili
The crowd
that gathered at the Maison des Cultures du Monde at the Bld Raspail was
as Cosmopolitan as the Band that was about to perform for a unique concert in
Paris. A mixture
of Persian residents of Paris and American teachers and students of the former
Alliance Francaise were talking about the latest cultural events in Paris. I arrived with my
mother Jeanne to the main entrance and Mom told me that she used to take courses
in the same building some 40 years or so ago before meeting my Father. Les
Feuilles Mortes se Ramassent a la Pelle used to sing Yves Montand back in
those years to the ears of all Lovers in Paris and Lovers of Eternal Paris
...
I bump
into Shahrokh Golestan who acknowledges my smile and I introduce him to Mom. The
well known Journalist of the BBC who had filmed the Shah's coronation and the
Persepolis Celebrations narrated by the Legendary
Orson Welles back in October 1971 has been living in Paris since the revolution
of 1979. He was the manager of the famous Cinema Aryana in Shiraz that used to be one
of the highlight places to go to in those care free years before the
Revolution.
Noorsaaz Ensemble and photographer Aydin Salehi© Aydin
Salehi
Americans and Shirazis used
to hang around in the Khiabouneh Zand and Cinema Aryana's Discoteque was one of
the most best frequented nightclubs in town. Mom and Mr. Golestan spoke about
the common acquaintances in Shiraz and we spoke
about the latest Sassanian Exhibition in Paris'
Cernuschi
Museum ( See Related Article) that has been drawing alot of
attention.
I
recognized some of the Band Members of the Noorsaaz Ensemble like the Very Tall
and beautiful Megan
Weeder Violin,
Timothy
Quigley
Percussion, Mavrothis
Kontanis
Oud,
Nathan
Dillon Guitar
all of whom were to make headlines a year ago on the internet thanks to a
breathtaking performance at the NY Trinity Church that was broadcast on the
internet. They had just arrived from Budapest, Hungary where they had received an
Award of Excellence for their work at the Persian Golden Lioness
Awards(R) 2nd Annual. It was high time for the Concert to begin so before I
could say hello we all moved into the cozy theater of the Cultural Center.
Noorsaaaz on Stage © Aydin Salehi
As everyone moved to their
seats and chatted, I could feel that everyone was kind of excited to hear and
see Noorsaaz Perform their first live concert in Paris.
Then we got to see the Band
arrive on stage and followed by the beautiful Cherry lipped and few months
pregnant Monika Jalili. Everyone applauded and waited for them to get into the
mood.
Noorsaaaz
album signed by Monika Jalili © Aydin Salehi
What can I
say other that the Band played marvellously well and that we were all took by
the magic of the moment so superbly recreated by this All American Band. Monika
showed no signs of fatigue despite her pregnancy and the Band was anything but
Jet Lagged by their trip all the way from NY to Budapest and then to Paris. I
got to sneak into Monika's Lounge and meet her and her Band members during the
break halfway through the Concert. I offered Monika a bouquet of Roses and
wished her and her husband Reza all the best for the new expected child.
Crowd at La Maison des Cultures Du Monde © Aydin
Salehi
The
beautiful folksongs succeeded to one another and the audience was genuinely
charmed by the performance. Three Standing Ovations and Cheers of BRAVO's
followed confirming if needed of the Band's increasing popularity. I was seated
in between my French Mother and several Iranian young ladies when I noticed that
tears of joy and emotion were spilling from these ladies eyes. Some were not
even born when the Revolution took place. A young actress who was studying Drama
at the French
University was holding her
head in her hands and sobbing silently. My own mother weeped when she heard
Monika Perform her two favourite song Shekareh Ahoo and Goleh Sangam.
I have been to many Persian Concerts and certainly Googoosh's has been one
of the most emotional experiences for a live audience but there is something
very special about Noorsaaz that I have rarely encountered in the past 27
years I have lived outside Iran. It seems they have always existed in our minds
and hearts and yet no one ever had heard of them before their broadcast on the
Internet a year ago. Maybe the reason is the simplicity of their performances
and the joy they express through them. It is probably this Joy and the images
linked to them that we had to some degree, if not forgotten, at most
ignored, during the past quarter of a century during which Iran has been
associated to War, Fundamentalist Revolution or Terrorism.
Relaxing after concert © Aydin Salehi
What Noorsaaz communicates is
an Axis of Joy. They are the living proof that a Dialogue of Civilizations are
indeed possible between the West and the East and that the rich Persian Culture
is also Universal and that it belongs to all mankind.
Thank You
Noorsaaz for reminding us of who we were and are!
An Axis of Joy: Reza and Monika Jalili © Aydin
Salehi
Authors
Notes:
Here are some photos taken during and after the
concert by photographer Aydin Salehi who managed to capture some of that magical
night's atmosphere. After the Concert Noorsaaz invited me and their friends and
fans to a quaint French Restaurant to celebrate their success. I think Parisians
will look forward to seeing them again.
Recommended
Reading :
The
Sound of Music : Monika Jalili and Noorsaaz's Remembrance of Things
Past...
by
Darius KADIVAR
Recommended
Listening: Radio Zamaneh coverage of Paris Concert and
Reactions
Other Events in Paris:
- Les Perses
Sassanides, Fastes d'un empire oublié (15
September-30th of December 2006) : Amazing exhibition on the Last
Pre-Islamic Persian Dynasty at the Cernuschi Museum.
- East Meets West at Exhibition Venise et
L'Orient ( 3rd Oct 2006-18th of February 2007)
at L'institut du Monde Arab in association of the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, New York.
About the
Author: Darius
KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist, Film Historian and Media
Consultant
