A Musical Tribute to Hafez Shirazi by Iranian and Turkish Musicians in Ankara

As part of the ongoing celebrations honoring Hafez Shirazi and in commemoration of the 2025 Iran–Turkey Cultural Year, the Iranian Instruments Ensemble of the National Orchestra of Iran performed at the Presidential Hall in Ankara, filling the venue with the resonant sounds of Persian music.

According to the Roudaki Foundation’s public relations office, the Iranian Instruments Ensemble, led by Pouria Shiyafar and featuring vocalist Mojtaba Asgari, took the stage on Tuesday evening, October 14, 2025 (Mehr 22, 1404), in a joint concert alongside Turkish traditional instrumentalists. The performance was held within the framework of cultural cooperation between Iran and Turkey, jointly organized by the Roudaki Foundation and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.

The program featured a selection of masterpieces from Iranian music, all based on poems from the Divan of Hafez Shirazi, highlighting the profound connection between Persian poetry and music and presenting it on an international stage.

A distinctive feature of the concert was the collaborative performance by Iranian and Turkish musicians, blending the instruments and melodies of both nations into a harmonious dialogue. This musical exchange served as a significant step in strengthening cultural diplomacy and deepening artistic ties between Iran and Turkey.

Members of the Iranian ensemble included Pouria Shiyafar (ney), Masoud Azin (tar), Anahita Jaz Ramazani (tar), Ali Abedin (santur), Maryam Molla (tonbak), Mojgan Mohammadhosseini (qanun), Sohrab Bahiraei (kamancheh), Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Sajjadieh (kamancheh), and Mehran Khanzadeh (oud). Together with the Turkish musicians, they created a series of unforgettable musical moments.

The event was attended by prominent cultural figures and officials from both countries, including Seyed Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism; Mohammad Hossein Habibollahzadeh, Iran’s Ambassador to Turkey; Mehdi Mohammadi, Deputy Minister for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi, Senior Advisor to the Minister and Acting Deputy for Artistic Affairs; Niknam Hosseinpour, Advisor to the Minister and Head of the Public Relations and Information Center; Hossein Divsalar, Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation at the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization; Amirabbas Setayeshgar, Deputy for Artistic Creation at the Roudaki Foundation; and other political, cultural, and artistic dignitaries from both nations.

Jointly organized by the Roudaki Cultural and Artistic Foundation and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, this performance was part of the 2025 Iran–Turkey Cultural Year events and a tribute to Hafez Shirazi — an evening where the sound of Persian music and the message of Persian poetry intertwined to convey a spirit of art and friendship to the world.