TEHRAN -- The International Institute for Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations (IIDACC) paid tribute to leading Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri in a ceremony at the Iranian Artists Forum in Tehran on December 29.

Nazeri was awarded a simorgh statuette designed by Qodratollah Aqeli.
He received the award from veteran Iranian actor Ezzatollah Entezami at the gathering of the IIDACC which is annually held on Eid al-Ghadir during which director Seyyed Moahammad Khatami meets with Iranian artists.
The special tribute was made to commemorate Nazeri’s great achievement in gaining the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur medal, one of France’s most prestigious awards, and a coveted trophy in the world of art and culture. He was presented with the medal in Paris on September 29, 2007.
“Today, on this much celebrated day, I have been pleasantly surprised, as I hadn’t predicted receiving this statuette,” Nazeri said.
After the presentation, Nazeri was invited to sing for the audience and he gave an improvised performance of “The Passion of Rumi”, his latest album which was released in August 2007.
The meeting continued with a lecture by Khatami and a recital by Iran’s only female narrator of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Fatemeh Habibizad, known as Gordafarid.
Caption: Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri (R) receives IIDACC’s Simorgh award from veteran actor Ezzatollah Entezami (C) during a ceremony at the Iranian Artists Forum on December 29. IIDACC Director Seyyed Mohammad Khatami is also seen in the picture. (Fars/Ali Shayegan)