TEHRAN – The renowned Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri said on Sunday that he is eager to perform free concerts in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to boost the spirits of Iranians during the current adverse economic conditions confronting the country.

“They (cultural authorities) give us Tehran’s Azadi Stadium so that we give free concerts for several nights along with other ensembles,” Nazeri told the Persian service of ISNA published on Sunday.

The Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance issues the permissions for the concerts.

“I hope the permission would be issued soon and we would not have to come and go until (mourning days of) Muharram arrives,” he added.

Nazeri added that although he sees no proper perspective for outdoor concerts, he will give concerts without any condition.

On July 30, vocalist Homayun Shajarian announced his willingness to perform free concerts on the streets.

“My dear friends, in these days that we are going through fire like Siavash [an epic hero in Ferdowsi’s masterpiece Shahnameh], I don’t know what we can do to feel a little bit better,” he had written in a post on his Instagram.

“If it were not for the problem of license, I would be ready to give a street concert for free for you dear friends, maybe it would help our hearts find peace alongside one another,” added Homayun, the son of the legendary vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian who has always been sensitive to various unpleasant conditions in Iranian society over his professional life.

A few days later the Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance gave its formal approval to Shajarian’s plan to perform free concerts on the streets.

“The Music Office is ready to issue permissions for those musicians who are interested in performing outdoor concerts in order to bring hope and joy to the public,” the office said in a statement.

In Iran, musicians must get cultural authorities’ official approval before giving a performance.

Nazeri and his son, Hafez, will tour Canada during October. The tour will begin in Ottawa on October 13 and will continue on to Montreal, Toronto and Calgary, and will wrap up in Vancouver on October 28. A repertoire of songs from the 2014 album “Untold” will be performed during the tour.

Photo: Shahram Nazeri in an undated photo

RM/