From “Zal” to “Rostam” / The National Orchestra of Iran Narrates Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh

The National Orchestra of Iran, with the performance of the overture Rostamzad composed and conducted by guest conductor Amir Pourkhalaji and narrated by Baran Nikrah, took the stage at Vahdat Hall on September 29 and 30 for two consecutive nights.

Roudaki Foundation: the National Orchestra of Iran welcomed enthusiasts of music and Persian literature with this overture, which Amir Pourkhalaji composed based on stories from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.

The performance began with a short prologue and continued with the presence of the narrator alongside the musicians. The overture Rostamzād, presented in 17 movements, unfolded before the audience; narration and music, sometimes separately and at times in fusion, created a fresh and distinctive atmosphere at Vahdat Hall.

The sections of the overture included: The Beginning of the Story, Sam Nariman’s Dream, Sam Handing over the Kingdom to Zal, Zal Meets Mehrāab of Kabul, Rudabeh’s Love for Zal, Rudabeh’s Handmaidens Visit Zalzar, Zal Goes to Rudabeh, The First Meeting of Zal and Rudāabeh, Zal Writes a Letter to His Father Sam, Sindokht and Mehrab Discover Zal and Rudabeh’s Affection, Manuchehr Learns of Zal and Rudabeh’s Affair, Sam Marches to Battle with Mehrab, Sam Sends Zal with a Letter to Manuchehr, Zal Arrives Before Manuchehr and is Tested, Manuchehr’s Reply to Sam and the Union of Zal and Rudābeh, and finally Rostamzad.

One of the remarkable features of this performance was the presence of wind instrument players in the balconies of Vahdat Hall, where at certain points the conductor turned toward the first and second balconies to lead the wind section.

Among the officials and artists attending the two performances of the National Orchestra of Iran at Vahdat Hall were: Seyed Saeed Sarabi, Director General of the Office for Coordination of Provincial Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Mohammad Alahyari Foumani, CEO of the Roudaki Foundation; Abolfazl Sadeghi Nejad, Secretary of the Council for the Evaluation of Artists; Seyed Amirabbas Setayeshgar, Deputy for Artistic Creation at the Roudaki Foundation; as well as Mani Jafarzadeh, Behzad Abdi, Ali Jafari Pouyan, Hossein Alishapour, Seyed Mohsen Hosseini, Mohammad Solouki, and others.