The first Iranian concert was held in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on May 27.
Davood Azad, the accomplished Iranian classical and Azeri folk singer and musician, performed at the program organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) in Srinagar, Kashmir, ISNA reported.
The large audience was captivated by the mesmerizing performance of Azad who in one of the pieces was accompanied by local Kashmiri musicians, Waheed Geelani and Ustad Mushtaq Saaz Nawaz.
On his Kashmir concert, Azad said, “Unfortunately, due to the regional military conflict, the police are seen in most parts of the city. So there has not been much opportunity for musical performances here”.
However, what drew Azad’s attention was that Rumi, Attar, Hafez and other great Iranian poets are very popular with the people of Kashmir. “You can see the influence of Persian art and literature everywhere in Kashmir,” he noted.
Azad, 53, was born in Urmia, Iran. Currently based in Tehran, he is a virtuoso in Persian instruments tar, setar, tanbour, oud, daf and robab.
He is admired for his unique singing style, integrating classical and modern music. He has held concerts and performed at international festivals over the last two decades in Europe, North America, Australia and East Asia as well as in Iran, with over 300 performances worldwide.
With his contemporary vision on classic Persian music, he tries to spread the message of unity, harmony and peace among nations. His music is universal and appeals to people of all backgrounds.
Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vohra and the State Minister for Hajj and Wakf Farooq Ahmad Andrabi were among the prominent attendees.
Azad is due to leave from Iran for Canada for a new round of his concert tours.
