Music News in Iran: From Lian Group's Performance to Possible Concert by Yanni

As the end of the week approaches, we review recent music events in Iran: the warm reception of the Lian group's concert, which has led to an extension of their performances in Tehran, and speculation about the possible presence of Yanni, the famous Greek composer and musician, in Iran. The reception for the Lian group's concert in Tehran has been so warm that it has been extended for another performance. Thus, tomorrow, Friday, February 6, 2015, Lian, led by Mohsen Sharifian, will perform twice at the Vahdat Hall, once at 7 PM and once at 8:30 PM. The Lian group has been active in the field of southern Iranian music for over two decades, seeking a larger audience both in Iran and abroad. This group is one of the most active and recognized local music groups in Iran. However, Lian has always faced challenges in performing live in its homeland, and recently one of their performances in Bushehr was canceled due to the resistance of hardline religious forces in the province, an event that has a precedent in this city and has previously happened to many artists, including the Lian group itself, with some artists even failing to hold concerts despite having official permits. The leader of the Lian group, Mohsen Sharifian, a 39-year-old artist, attended a press conference on Sunday, February 1, and spoke about the incidents that occurred in Bushehr for the group. He said that over the years, he has tried to introduce Bushehr as a vibrant city to the world through academic and musical activities, showing that the heritage of his birthplace goes beyond just the nuclear power plant and includes music and the sound of the bagpipes as well. Regarding the potential concert by Yanni, media outlets have been discussing the possibility of a concert by Yanni Chrysomallis, the famous Greek musician and composer, in Iran for some time. These speculations have particularly intensified since autumn of this year, following several successful performances by Kitaro, the Japanese composer and musician, in Tehran. Kitaro's successful concerts, an internationally renowned artist and a pioneer of the 'New Age' music genre in Iran, may pave the way for the presence of other prominent global figures in popular music in Iran. On the occasion of the potential Yanni concert, Fars News Agency recently conducted an extensive interview with this 60-year-old composer and musician, where he expressed his hopes for holding a concert in Iran. Yanni, who has sold over 20 million copies of his albums, is recognized as a commercially successful figure and has many fans in Iran. He is considered a pioneer in blending electronic synthesizer sounds with large symphonic orchestras and incorporates elements of world music and instruments from various cultures in his works. Since the possibility of Yanni's presence in Iran has been raised, some individuals have not reacted positively to this issue. One of them is Ali Rahbari, a 66-year-old Iranian conductor and composer. The former conductor of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra and a man with experience as an assistant conductor (such as with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) and conducting European orchestras (such as the Film Radio Orchestra, Belgium), Ali Rahbari was quoted in an interview published by ISNA this week, stating that Yanni's works have had a 'mothball' smell for a long time. Ali Rahbari also mentioned that Yanni's name has never been discussed in serious and high-level circles in terms of performance or composition, and his presence in Iran's cultural scene could potentially harm the cultural level of the country.