Iranian maestro Rahbari to perform ‘Persia, Concerto for Two Tars’ in Russia
Celebrated conductor to return to Russia with symphonic poem from ‘My Mother Persia’ series, joined by tar soloists Aidin Olyanassab and Mahsa Kharatian
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Renowned Iranian composer and conductor Ali (Alexander) Rahbari will return to the prestigious Mariinsky Opera and Concert Hall in Saint Petersburg, Russia, this June for a second performance of his celebrated work Persia, Concerto for Two Tars.
Scheduled for June 19, the performance will feature Iranian tar soloists Aidin Olyanassab and Mahsa Kharatian, accompanied by the Mariinsky Orchestra under Rahbari’s baton.
The piece, symphonic poem No. 8 from his My Mother Persia album, was first performed at the venue on March 21 to critical acclaim and a warm audience reception, according to IRNA.
Rahbari’s My Mother Persia is a cycle of symphonic poems rooted in Persian traditional music, blending indigenous rhythms, melodies, and improvisations with orchestral grandeur. The collection reflects his dual mastery as both a composer and conductor.
Rahbari, 76, began his musical training at the age of five and later graduated from the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts, studying composition with Gottfried von Einem and conducting with Hans Swarovsky.
He won international accolades in conducting competitions in Besançon (gold, 1977) and Geneva (silver, 1978).
Throughout his career, Rahbari has led over 120 orchestras worldwide, including the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, and Stockholm Philharmonic.
He held principal positions with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, and Belgian Radio and Television Orchestra, among others. In 1997, he founded the Persian International Philharmonic Orchestra in Austria.
Joining him for the June performance are distinguished soloists with strong backgrounds in Persian classical music.
Aidin Olyanassab, 49, began studying the tar at age nine and later expanded his training to include classical piano and orchestration.
He has taught at major Iranian institutions and released several tar albums, including Dar Gozar… (1999), Sargashteh (2013), and Rad-e Pa (2018). Since 2014, he has led the Uranus group and founded Uranus Specialized Music Academy in 2019.
Mahsa Kharatian, 24, is a rising star in Iran’s music scene. A graduate of the Tehran Conservatory of Music, she is furthering her studies at the Iran University of Art.
Trained by Aidin Olyanassab and Hamid Khabbazi and inspired by maestro Rahbari, she has cultivated a unique and expressive voice on the tar.
Rahbari made his debut at the Mariinsky Theater in 2022 and has since become a recurring figure on its stage.
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