TEHRAN-The Iranian traditional vocalist Alireza Qorbani will hold his last concerts in the current Iranian year from March 13 to March 19 in Tehran.

He will perform live every night during the last week of the outgoing year at the Espinas Palace Hotel, IRNA reported.

Recognized as one of the most active traditional contemporary singers of Iran, Qorbani started his vocal lessons at the age of 12 and became a solo vocalist of the National Orchestra of Iran at 27. Three years later, he became a foreground singer of Persian song, having mastered the numerous scales of Middle Eastern music. Flawlessly controlling the rarest vocal techniques in singing, his very ramified repertory constitutes the radif (non- rhythmic) and the tasnif (rhythmic) techniques.

An artist of great calibre, Qorbani is deeply rooted in the tradition with an insatiable curiosity and open-mindedness towards other cultures. He has laid claims to being a worthy successor of Mohammed Reza Shajarian, the man regarded as the undisputed master of Persian classical song. He is attributed with dozens of musical albums, numerous live performances and concerts, and scores of international multicultural projects and festivals in many countries around the world.

The versatility and creativity of his work is illustrated by his many collaborations with artists of various backgrounds, such as Alim Qasimov (Azerbaijan), Jobran Trio (France), Dorsaf Hamdani (Tunisia), Bombay Jayashri (India), Celia Woodsmith to name a few.

Qorbani is also the founder of the Voices and Bridges project, which brings together composers and musicians from diverse world music styles. Songs on the project feature lyrics by well-known poets such as Youshij, Rumi and Pablo Neruda.

He also has a great deal of experience with cinema and television and has sung some of the famous pieces in many popular TV series.

SS/SAB