Source: Mehr News Agency, Tehran; photos by
Baqer Nasir
The Tehran Symphony Orchestra (TSO)
will perform the Peace and Friendship Symphony in five European countries
despite objections by a number of prominent Iranian musicians.
Italy, France, and Germany will be three of the
five countries to host the TSO from January 22 to February 4, the Persian
service of the Fars News Agency reported on Monday.
The two other countries will be announced in the near future, the agency added
with no reference to the source of the report.
No precise venue was mentioned for the TSO's concerts in the three countries.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad kisses conductor Majid Entezami after
a performances of the Peace and Friendship Symphony by the Tehran
Symphony Orchestra at Tehran's Vahdat Hall on February 2, 2009.
Former culture minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi is also seen.
A number of Iranian musicians including Melal
Orchestra conductor Peyman Soltani and TSO Council member Mostafa-Kamal Purtorab
are opposed to the composition selected for the concerts.
They have said that the Peace and Friendship Symphony lacks the standards of a
symphony to be performed in Europe, which is home of the world's most prominent
composers and prestigious symphony orchestras.
They believe that Iranian classical music will be dishonored by performing the
symphony.
Composed by Majid Entezami in last year, the
symphony was originally entitled the Islamic Revolution Symphony, but it has
recently been renamed for the European concerts.
Majid Entezami
It was first performed at Tehran's Vahdat Hall
for five nights during Iran's Fajr celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the
Islamic Revolution in February 2009. A number of high-ranking Iranian officials,
including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attended one of the concerts.
