Fajr Music Festival to offer performances by foreign musicians

The 36th edition of the Fajr Music Festival (FMF) has been scheduled to play host to performances by a number of international musicians.

To be held online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the gala will host works by cellist Martin Melendez from Cuba, pianist Moritz Ernst and saxophonist Timo Vollbrecht from Germany, and pianist Gianna Fratta and violinist Dino Di Palma from Italy.

Moreover, works by the Austrian duos Vila Madalena and Sain Mus will be offered during the event.

Vila Madalena is composed of accordionist Nikola Zaric and clarinet and saxophone player Franz Oberthaler, and guitarist Phillip Erasmus and cellist Clemens Sainitzer have formed Sain Mus duo.

Martin Melendez and Vila Madalena have been recorded their performances in their country exclusively for the FMF.

The piano solo Moritz Ernst as well as the duet by Gianna Fratta and Dino Di Palma will be recorded in Iran.

The organizers of the FMF announced that the participating ensembles have begun recording their performances and the gala will announce its schedule soon.

Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed-Abbas Salehi has also called holding the festival online a new experience and the virtual space an important venue for the musical performances.

Mohammad Allahyari, Iran’s Music Office director, earlier said the top selected music albums produced in 2018 and 2019 will be honored with the Barbad Award during the FMF.

Established in 2016 at the 31st edition of the festival, the Barbad Award is dedicated to the best album of the year.

Member of the FMF committee Amir-Abbas Setayeshgar said the section has been warmly received and 148 albums have been submitted to the jury for the final awards due to the two-year halt in granting the Barbad Award.

He also noted “In the non-competition section, over 60 ensembles have been reviewed. However, the number of performances will be decreased due to the pandemic.”

The 36th edition of the FMF is slated for February 16-21, 2021.

MG/AG