Shahram Nazeri

Shahram Nazeri
Background information
Born	1951 (age 59–60), Kermanshah, Iran
Origin	Kermanshah, Iran
Genres	Kurdish music
Occupations	Singer, Composer
Instruments	Setar
Years active	1958–present

Shahram Nazeri (Kurdish: Şehram Nazirî) is a contemporary Iranian tenor of Kurdish ancestry who sings classical Persian music from Kermanshah. He is one of Iran's most respected vocalists. He has been accompanied by some of the authorities of Persian traditional music such as Jalil Shahnaz, Alizadeh, Jalal Zolfonoun, Payvar.

Biography

He was the first vocalist to set Rumi's poetry to Iranian music thirty-five years ago, thus establishing a tradition of Sufi music within both Iranian classical music and his music was instrumental in introducing Western musical audiences to both Sufism and to the poetry of Rumi. The New York Times has dubbed him the Persian Nightingale and the Christian Science Monitor has called him Iran's Pavarotti.

Nazeri has released over forty recordings to date. His Gol-e Sadbarg (The One-hundred-petalled Rose) is among the best-selling albums of Persian classical music and Sufi music in the history.

His musical talents were first nurtured by his mother at a very young age. Throughout his childhood, he was under the tutelage of the most renowned masters of Persian music including Abdollah Davami, Nourali Boroumand, and Mahmood Karimi.

At eleven, he performed on television for the first time. By twenty-nine, he had gained a loyal fan base. He has continued to perform in Iran and abroad.

He has performed at major venues worldwide, including The Festival of Aix-en-Provence, The festival of Avignon, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, The Tokyo Summer festival, The Kodak Theatre (Oscar ceremony) in Los Angeles, the Royal Albert Hall, the Festa del Popolo in Italy, The Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon, the Kölner Philharmonie in Germany, Asia Society, World Music Institute and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York, the Roma Europa Festival in Rome, São Paulo Music Festival in Brazil and Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco and many others.

From early on, Nazeri was a pioneer in singing and composing music to the poetry of the greatest Persian poet and mystic, Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Iran's most cherished poet. Nazeri was also pioneering in assimilating contemporary Persian poetry into the classical repertoire. His progressive approach to music has led to collaborative new projects with his son, Composer and singer Hafez Nazeri. In year 2000 they performed Hafez's new composition in Iran which has hold the record for the most highly attended concert 140.000 in entire Middle East.

In year 05/06 Master Nazeri along with his son's new Rumi ensemble launched In the Path of Rumi, a highly successful North American tour which performed record-breaking sold-out concerts to rave reviews.^{[citation needed]} The venues included Los Angeles' Kodak theater (12/11/05), - the most highly attended Persian classical music concert outside of Iran. His international appeal led to several invitations to speak at various media outlets, including radio stations such as NPR in the United States, BBC, a live appearance on the Fox News Channel (3/10/06), and an exclusive on ABC NEWS, following a recent New York performance.

On September 28, 2007 he was presented France's most prestigious award the "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres" Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, List of members of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his lifetime achievements in Persian Classical music.

Nazeri's performances have garnered critical acclaim worldwide and won him awards at music festivals around the world. In 1975, he won First Prize at the Concours de Musique Traditionelle, the first competition to showcase Iran's great performers.

More recently, the Ministry of Culture in Iran named him the Best Singer of Classical Persian and Sufi Music. UCLA has honored Shahram Nazeri with the Living Legend Award. The United Nations has honored Nazeri with a recognition award for his legendary contribution to the revival of Iranian Classical Music. The Irvine City Hall Award of Distinction in Persian music was given to Shahram Nazeri for his contributions in spreading Rumi's spiritual message of peace through the language of music.

February 25, 2006 was named "SHAHRAM NAZERI DAY" in San Diego County by the Mayor and the Chairman of San Diego's Board of Supervisors. Soon after this date Shahram Nazeri also received a recognition award from the Congress of the United States and was invited to perform and lecture at Stanford University, Columbia University, University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles UCLA, Emory University in Atlanta and Harvard University, where he was recognized for his pioneering efforts in introducing Rumi to the West as well as for his innovations in Persian music.

He specializes in the rich tradition of Sufi music, which turns to song the mystical poetry of Rumi, Hafez, Attar, and others. Nazeri is known particularly for several decades of works on Rumi poetry. He is also working on the composition and arrangement of a symphony on Firdowsi's masterpiece Shahnameh.^[1] Nazeri is Called "the Iranian nightingale" and usually holds deeply soulful performances.^[2][3][4][5] He is also referred to as "the Pavarotti of Iran".^[6]

Nazeri’s name has also been included in the list of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World,^[7] issued by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.

He studied Vocal techniques with distinguished Persian classical masters of vocal such as:

• Abdollah Davami
• Abdol Ali Vaziri
• Nourali Boroumand
• Mahmoud Karimi

Besides, has studied playing Setar with masters of Setar such as:

• Ahmad Ebadi
• Bigjeh-Khani
• Jalal Zolfonoun

Works

Some of his most popular albums are:

• The Passion of Rumi 2008 (Live recording from Tehran, 2001), composed by Shahram Nazeri, arranged by Hafez Nazeri
• The Book of Austerity 2007, with Farrokhzad Layegh
• Mythical Chant 2002, also called Naghme-haye Sassani (Songs from Sassanid era), with Bashipour and Hafez Nazeri
• Loulian 2001, with Dastan ensemble, composed by Shahram Nazeri and Hamid Motebassem
• Shahram Nazeri & the Dastan Ensemble, 2001, Live in France, arranged by Kayhan Kalhor
• Safar be Digar Sou 1998, Live in Washington, D.C., (Through Eternity), composed by Shahram Nazeri, arranged by Dastan ensemble
• 98's Concert 1998, Live in Shiraz on Hafez’ Anniversary, with Kamkars and Hafez Nazeri
• Nowruz 1990, Live in Cologne, Germany, performed by Aref and Shayda Ensemble, composed by Hossein Alizadeh plus some Persian folk songs
• Les Maitres de la Musique Traditionnelle: Nazeri & Tala’i 1980s, Live at the Théâtre de la Ville
• Gol-e Sadbarg 1984, (One hundred-petalled flower), composed by Jalal Zolfonoun, Shahram Nazeri & Reza Ghassemi
• Atashi Dar Neyestan 1980s, (A Fire in the Reed-Bed), composed by Jalal Zolfonoun & Shahram Nazeri
• Layli & Majnoun 1990, (the Beloved and the Lover), with masters of Persian music composed by Faramarz Payvar
• Concert of the Masters of Persian Music 1989, Faramarz Payvar, Ali-Asghar Bahari, Jalil Shahnaz, Mohammad Mousavi and Mohammad Esmaili
• Del-e Shayda 1990s, (Enchanted Heart), performed by masters of Persian music, composed by Faramarz Payvar
• Chashm Be-raah 1990s, (Kept Awaiting), with Atta Jangouk
• Mystified 1990s, (Heyrani), performed by Shams Ensemble, composed by Kaykhosro Pournazeri
• Mahtab-rou 1990s, (as beautiful as the moon), performed by Shams Ensemble, composed by Kaykhosro Pournazeri
• Voice of Endearment 1970s, (Sedaye Sokhan-e Eshgh), performed by Shams Ensemble, composed by Kaykhosro Pournazeri
• Shour-Angiz 1980s, (Joy-giver), composed by Hossein Alizadeh, performed by Aref and Shayda Ensemble
• Yadegar-e doust (In remembrance of a friend), composed by Kambiz Roshanravan
• Baharan-e Abidar 1980s (Springtime in Abidar [a mountain around Sanandaj / Iran]), with Kamkars group
• Beshno az Ney 1980s (Listen to the Reed), with Fereydoun Shahbazian
• Dar Golestaneh 1980s, (In Golestaneh [a village around Kashan / Isfahan province]),composed by Hooshang Kamkar
• Laleh Bahar 1970s, (Spring Tulip), with Aref Ensemble, composed by Parviz Meshkatian
• Bi Gharar 1980s, composed by Jalil Andalibi
• Kish-e mehr 1980s, (Manner of Affection) composed by Jalil Andalibi
• Benmay Rokh 1970s, (Show me your Face), composed by Jalil Andalibi
• Chavoush (4 Volumes) 1970s, performed by Shayda Ensembe, composed by Mohammad-Reza Lotfi

Banned works

• Rastpanjgah Concert, composed by Shahram Nazeri, performed in Tehran 1996
• The Book of Austerity,
• Zagros based on folklore music of Iran
• Mousa & Shaban (Moses & Shepherd)
• Concert of Aref Ensemble in Tehran 2005
• In the Path of Rumi Tour in the US & Canada since 2001

Honors

• On September 28, 2007 he was presented France's Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for his lifetime achievements in Persian Classical music.^[8]
• Prestigious "lifetime achievement award", House of Music Celebration.(2007)
• Asia Society has awarded him by the prestigues Lifetime Cultural Heritage Award along with Secretary General of United Nation on Nov 2007

See also

Ensembles worked with Nazeri:

• Aref ensemble
• Dastan ensemble
• Kamkars group
• Shams Ensemble

Notes

1. ^ hotel deal family vacations vacation at sharghnewspaper.com
2. ^ CHN | News
3. ^ Fes Festival
4. ^ World Music Central — Your connection to World Music
5. ^ AIAP Monthly General Meetings
6. ^ Curiel, Jonathan (1997-06-11). "Iran's Pavarotti: Sharam Nazeri". The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/1997/0611/061197.feat.music.2.html. 
7. ^ The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. "The 500 Most Influential Muslims" (PDF). The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. http://www.rissc.jo/docs/0A-FullVersion-LowRes.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-03. 
8. ^ "France to present Chevalier medal to Shahram Nazeri". Tehran Times. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=153959. Retrieved 2007-10-02. 

External links

• Shahram Nazeri's official website
• Shahram Nazeri at Allmusic
• Shahram Nazeri's performance at 800th anniversary of Rumi (BBC Persian)
• Légion d'honneur for Shahram Nazeri (BBC Persian)
• France to Award Iran's Pavarotti (Fars News Agency)
• YouTube Video Clips Shahram and Hafez Nazeri
• A demonstration with the Kamkars

• Master Nazeri's web-space is http://www.myspace.com/shahramnazeri.

Persondata
Name	Nazeri, Shahram
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1951
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death