TEHRAN, Nov. 26 (Mehr News Agency) -- Iranian ensembles together with several foreign groups will be performing in the weeklong festival,"From Classic to Contemporary", which is to begin at Tehran's Rudaki Hall on November 29.

The festivity will be cosponsored by Iran's Music Society and the Modern Music Ensemble.

(file photo)

"The event is basically an attempt to bring music into the lives of ordinary people," Modern Music Ensemble conductor Alireza Mashayekhi said during a press conference held on Sunday.

"The program has been devised to encourage young musicians and provide an atmosphere in which they can express themselves," he added.

He criticized officials' ignorance of classical music adding, "Unfortunately, the situation is so bad that we have to obtain a license to perform concerts of Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, etc."

"The most vulnerable field is that of classical music ...Iranian people have spent a long time in a deep slumber with regards to this type of music." He explained.

"If we want our country to be civilized, we should take music seriously, as it greatly influences peoples' thoughts, Mashayekhi noted.

Overall, a total of 155 pieces will be performed by 77 Iranian and foreign groups during the program.

... Payvand News - 11/26/07 ... --