The
Rise of a Musical Giant in Iran
By Reza Baraheni
Iran
Melal Orchestra (Iranian Orchestra of Nations), an
exquisite combination of musical pieces performed in
a blend of more than two-dozen musical instruments
of both Iranian and Western origins, made its first
historical appearance in Tehrans Vahdat Hall,
October 2-3 of this year. The orchestras
performance was by a colourful parade of men, women
and children of different nationalities and ages,
thoroughly dedicated to the cause of musical
experimentation and innovation in Iran on a
universal scale
Led by Payman
Soltani, the young dynamic maestro and composer, the
orchestra kept the audience in the packed hall
nailed to their seats, with everybody holding their
breath, only to burst into an unprecedented applause
after each piece came to an end. To imagine that a
piece by Mozart or Bartok could be played in
instruments completely alien to Western musical
roots, and to equally imagine that such a capacity
lay dormant both in the pieces of these great
composers, as well as the Middle Eastern
instruments...
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