Culture minister congratulates Hossein Alizadeh for Asian Award

Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri has congratulated Iranian musician Hossein Alizadeh for receiving Asian World Music Award.

Publishing a message to the acclaimed musician on Sunday, the minister wished success and health for Tar virtuoso Alizadeh and wrote, “I sincerely congratulate your success in receiving the Asian World Music Award.”

Salehi-Amiri also noted that Alizadeh's works played a brilliant role in presenting Iran's rich culture as well as civilization and he has spread Iranians’ message of peace and friendship.

South Korean World Music Center Foundation presented the award for best musician of the year to Alizadeh on May 25, 2017.

Born in Tehran, Alizadeh, 65, is a classical composer, researcher, teacher, and tar and setar (Persian instruments) player.

Alizadeh has worked together with a number of top Iranian and international musicians, including his fellow celebrated vocalists Shahram Nazeri and Mohammadreza Shajarian as well as Armenian musician and composer Djivan Gasparyan.

The recording of a concert titled ‘Endless Vision: Persian and Armenian Songs’ by Alizadeh and Gasparyan in Tehran has been among the five Grammy Award nominees for Best Traditional World Music Album in 2007. He was also nominated for the Grammy two other times.

The Iranian tar virtuoso, however, refused to accept the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor award, the highest decoration awarded by the French government, in 2014. Citing a reason why, he said that he does not want decorations and that he gains fulfillment from his good name.

He has also invented two new musical instruments called ‘Sallaneh’ and ‘Shoor-Angiz', both derived from the ancient Persian lute ‘Barbat’. Alizadeh has also penned several books related to music.

Organized by the World Music Center (WMC), the biannual Asia World Music Award commemorates artists who connect their countries with other parts of the world, especially Asia.

MG/AI