TEHRAN- The National Orchestra of Iran, under the baton of maestro Majid Entezami, paid tribute to the martyrs and victims of the terrorist incident in Kerman during the inaugural night of the "Along with Memories" concert on Friday.

After an 11-year hiatus, maestro Majid Entezami returned to the stage with a captivating performance of his memorable compositions at Tehran's Vahdat Hall.

At the end of the concert, Entezami dedicated the evening's performance to the martyrs of Kerman, expressing hope that such tragic events would never recur on Iranian soil.

The "Along with Memories" musical event, organized through a collaborative effort between the Rudaki Foundation, the Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the Iranian Music Society, will be on stage until Tuesday.

The concert features a selection of nostalgic pieces, including "The Symphony of the Epic of Khorramshar," "The Glass Agency," "From Karkheh to Rhine," "The Fragrance of Joseph's Shirt," "The Train," "Duel," "Zaal and Simorgh," "The Insane Flew Away," "Sheikh Bahai," and "Great Expectation."

At the age of 75, Entezami excels not only as a conductor but also as an accomplished oboist. With an impressive portfolio of over 80 movie compositions, nine television series scores, and 10 suite symphonies, he has repeatedly been honored with the Best Original Score award at the Fajr International Film Festival.

Having studied at the renowned State University of West Berlin under the guidance of Karl Steins and Lothar Koch in 1968, Entezami went on to deliver remarkable performances with the Berlin University Symphony Orchestra in cities like Lyon, Nancy, and Marseille, France, from 1969 to 1972.

In 1973, Entezami heeded the invitation of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra and held a triumphant Mozart concert as the oboe soloist, conducted by Helge Dorsch. Subsequently, he returned to Germany to join the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the West Deutsche Philharmonie.

In 1974, he became a member of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, taking on the roles of a faculty member at the Tehran Conservatory and the music department of the University of Tehran. Notably, in 1976, Entezami presented two impressive oboe recitals accompanied by Lucette Martirossian on piano and harpsichord, and Ivan Pristas on bassoon. He also demonstrated his exceptional talent as a viola d'amore soloist during a concert with the Les Jeunesses Musicales de I'Iran orchestra, conducted by Ali Rahbari and Valodia Tarkhanian.

Despite being the son of famous Iranian actor Ezzatollah Entezami, Majid's entrance into the cinema industry was his own.

He has a profound understanding of the picture and has always tried to tell the untold essence of the story. He also has experience with a variety of styles which has given his portfolio variety, from comedies to epic war movies.

The music of Entezami is orchestral and based on western classical music, but with Iranian instruments and unusual rhythms which give his works an eastern feel. 

Every theme and musical color heard in Entezami's work has a rational explanation in the story. He believes that music tells a part of the story that is not already told in the picture. Some of his works seem to be narrative, almost like part of the script, but he maintains that no director has ever asked him for such characteristics.

Iran's National Orchestra was founded in 1998 under the conduction of the renowned Iranian composer Farhad Fakhreddini.

The orchestra had been formed by Persian traditional instruments, strings and woodwind instruments. During its history, the orchestra focused on Persian composers’ compositions including pieces by renowned figures such as Fakhreddini, Ali Tajvidi, and Hossein Alizadeh among others.

Wednesday's terrorist attack in the southern city of Kerman resulted in the tragic loss of 89 lives.

The attack took place near the tomb of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the revered Iranian anti-terrorism commander, during a memorial ceremony commemorating four years since his martyrdom.

On Thursday, the ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the dual explosions that rocked Iran. According to a statement released on its affiliate Telegram channels, two ISIS members detonated explosive belts amidst the crowd gathered at the cemetery in Kerman on Wednesday. The extremist Sunni Muslim group, notorious for its acts of violence, took pride in its role in the deadly incident.

The memorial, held in honor of General Soleimani, marked the fourth anniversary of his untimely death. The esteemed commander was assassinated in Iraq in 2020 by a U.S. drone strike. In the wake of this bloodiest attack since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Tehran has vowed to avenge the loss of lives and ensure justice prevails.

SAB/