By Paul Sanford, Tehran

The Second Mahak Music Festival commenced on Thursday November 29th with a concert conducted by the famous Armenian composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian, who is celebrating his 70th birthday this week.

The Armenian Chamber orchestra played works by Khachaturian, Vivaldi and Tjeknavorian himself.  The violin soloist was Wolfgang David from Austria, and a number of Neapolitan Songs were sung by the Armenian tenor Suren Mkrtchyan.  There will be eight concerts on consecutive nights.

The concert was performed in front of a capacity audience in the amphitheatre of the Mahak hospital.

Mahak founder Saeideh Ghods

 Mahak is the charity which is devoted to caring for children with cancer in Iran.  They have recently opened a large hospital complex in Darabad, in the north of Tehran, which has been entirely funded by private donations.  Much of the work for the charity is done by volunteers.

The concert was supported by the Austrian Cultural Foundation.

Suren Mkrtchyan

Wolfgang David

About Mahak:

About two decades ago a mother who had experienced having a child with cancer and had witnessed first hand the difficulties faced by her child, pledged to set up a center that would act as a refuge for children and their families in a similar situation. With the assistance of the same friends and relatives who had helped her through her own ordeal, a board of trustees was selected and MAHAK Society to Support Children suffering from Cancer was set up as a non profit, non-governmental organization and was registered under number 6567 in 1991. MAHAK has been active from that day on in helping children with cancer and their families.

Web Site: www.mahak-charity.org
E.mail:info@mahak-charity.org

• MAHAK Hospital & Rehabilitation Complex, MAHAK St, Oushan, Lashgarak Road, Aqdasieh, Tehran, Iran. P.O Box: 19395-5445, To see the map click here
  Tel: (+9821) 22451414, (+9821) 22490544-7,
  Fax: (+9821) 22445454
  E-mail: info@mahak-charity.org

• Chizar Office:
  No 36, Neda Sq, Chizar,
  Tel: (+9821) 22213946, (+9821) 22213888,
  Fax: (+9821) 22201312

• Mellat Office:
  No 36, GF, Mellat Tower, in front of the Mellat Part, Vali-e-Asr Avenue.
  Tel: (+9821) 22025518, (+9821) 22037473, (+9821) 22037474

• Tehran Villa Hostel:
  No 79, Shahid Safavian St, Fourth St, Tehran Villa Junction, Satarkhan.
  Tel: (+9821) 66504136

... Payvand News - 12/06/07 ...