(18 Jan 2017) LEAD IN: A concert in the Iranian capital Tehran marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution provides a rare outlet for local and international musicians to showcase their talents. STORY-LINE: The audience welcomes the performers with a hearty applause as the conductor leaps onto his podium. This packed out theatre is testament to Iranians' love of music. Every evening for a week, the pleasing sound of violins, cellos, saxophones, guitars and brass instruments will resonate across theatres in central Tehran, as part of the country's biggest musical event. This event is a rare treat - a week long event in a country where the theocratic ruling system has frowned upon musical arts for decades, and generally refrained from encouraging and promoting them. The concert is held every year from January to February, around the anniversary of 1979 Islamic Revolution. The first Fajr festival was organized in 1985, and provides a rare avenue for artists of different genres to stage their work to an Iranian audience. The Iranian National Orchestra, Tehran philharmonic, Tehran choral symphony, folk ensembles and last but not least, pop singers, are some of the main performers at 32nd Fajr Music Festival. There are also four women-only bands which perform for female audiences. Created in 1998, Iran National Orchestra ceased activity in 2012 due to a lack of funding, but it has been revived in 2017 under President Hassan Rouhani's administration, benefiting from three million US dollars worth of funds. The orchestra staged its first performance in five years on Monday night at Vahdat hall, a performing arts complex constructed before the revolution in central Tehran. Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi Amiri praises the event. "Tonight you witnessed that fortunately the performance was carried out to a very high standard. The people of Tehran and lovers of culture and art welcomed it very warmly," he says. Modern Iranian music is a far cry from what it was before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Female voices are absent, religious music is emphasised, and music ordered by the government to promote its political and religious values is commonplace. Dancing is strictly forbidden in live and recorded works. Many popular artists migrated and continued their work in exile. Some of the artists present at this festival believe music does not enjoy its deserved status among other forms of art. "In my opinion, pop music is given more attention in our country both financially by the government and by the people as the audience. I think if more support is given to the classical and traditional music of our country, its situation would be much better than it is now," says violinist Farnaz Khakpour. Elsewhere in northern Tehran, at the Milad Tower auditorium, hundreds of fans are enjoying the festival's most popular segment - pop music performances. Cheerful crowds scream, wave glow sticks and sing along with their favourite singers. Rouhani's government has come into conflict with hardliners over pop music concerts over the last three years of his term. While the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is the authorised body that issues permits to concert organisers, hardliners in some religious cities, such as Mashhad in eastern Iran, have cancelled gigs several times. They believe music of any form is prohibited in Islam because it distances people from God. In December, one female violinist was banned from performing on stage at a pop concert that had obtained necessary permissions. "Laws (regarding concert permits for artists) must not be enforced based on personal tastes," says Maryam, a singer and backing vocalist. The festival runs until Friday 20 January. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5e63d38ae4281476bf629bd8a7ee430c Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 23 Jan 2017
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