TEHRAN-The 39th edition of the Fajr International Music Festival (FIMF) kicked off on Monday, February 12, in Tehran.

The all-female music group Nahal led by singer Leila Najafi staged the first performance of the festival at Vahdat Hall, which was especially for women, ISNA reported.

Comprising musicians playing both Iranian and international instruments, Nahal Music Group performed a repertoire of nostalgic traditional and pop songs with new arrangements.

The programs of the first day of the festival were followed by performances by Iran National Orchestra and Salar Aghili. 

Conducted by Homayoun Rahimian, the Iran National Orchestra also performed at Vahdat Hall. Renowned traditional singer Mohammad Motamedi accompanied the orchestra as the vocalist. 

The last performance at Vahdat Hall belonged to the celebrated traditional singer Salar Aghili whose velvet voice reverberated at the hall.

Tehran’s Roudaki Hall, adjacent to Vahdat Hall, hosted two international performances of this year’s festival.

Renowned Armenian pianist and composer Hayk Melikyan performed a piano recital at the venue and was followed by a performance by the Andaliban Band from Afghanistan. 

Melikyan, 43, is recognized internationally as one of the most versatile and imaginative performers of the 20th century and contemporary music and among today's most engaging virtuoso pianists by classical music audiences and critics. 

Melikyan is a laureate of international piano competitions, such as Concours d’Orléans (France), Ibla Grand Prize (Italy), Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music (USA), Premio Valentino Bucchi (Italy), etc. Moscow Composers Union awarded him a gold medal for his contribution and promotion of world contemporary music in 2012. 

The Afghan band, Andaliban, comprises a number of musicians and singers from Afghanistan, who have been living in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, in recent years due to the harsh conditions their country is faced with.

Musicians and bands from the Netherlands, India, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will also perform during the music festival.

In addition to Vahdat Hall, six other venues in Tehran play host to various performances during the festival including pop, folk, traditional, and international music.

The event will be held in Tehran and 14 other provinces simultaneously. The seven venues in Tehran host more than 70 performances and over 330 stage performances will be held in 14 provinces including East Azerbaijan, Bushehr, Semnan, Fars, Golestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, North Khorasan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kerman, and Hormozgan.

Organized by the Music Office of the Deputy for Artistic Affairs of Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the festival encompasses various sections such as the competitive (Barbad Award), non-competitive, and research sessions.

The international event will be underway until February 17.

Photo: Conducted by Homayoun Rahimian, the Iran National Orchestra performed at Vahdat Hall on the first day of the festival, February 12.

SS/SAB