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January/February 2005
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January/February 2005
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Iranian of the Day! baby Farah and her sisters
EXCITING NEWS FROM COLOMBIA PICTURES I received this email below from a Friend : Dancer and Choreographer Nima Kiann from Sweden, he is the Director of Les Ballets Persans". info@nimakiann.org He was contacted by Columbia pictures who want to make a movie set in Ancient Persia. The title and subject of the film was not mentioned but they want to do serious research before shooting it. Any feedback will be appreciated. Please send your feedback if you have any to Mr. Nima Kiann, I will try to keep you informed on the films subject in anycase. Please pass this info to friends or family susceptible to give any feedback. First Comic Strip on Shahnameh character ROSTAM by Bruce Bahmani
"Rostam tales from the Shahnameh" is the latest hyperwerks project. Adapted from the rich verse of Ferdowsi the famous Persian poet, the epic tales of valour, bravery, and devotion are for the first time adpated to the American comic genre. Rostam is the hero-champion of a mythical land of Iran. Dedicated to protecting her throne from all invaders and usurpers. Rostam faces outer threats as well as his own inner demons, a glimpse of our own humanity.
Khaleghi and his wife The Rouhollah Khaleghi Artistic Center continues the musical tradition established by Iran's greatest 20th-century composer, Rouhollah Khaleghi, under the leadership of his daughter, Golnoush Khaleghi. The Center fosters live musical Performances, music education, a scholarship program for Persian music students, and research. Its library includes all of the extant manuscripts of both Rouhollah and Golnoush Khaleghi, as well as a large collection of Rouhollah Khaleghi's recorded music. http://www.rkac.com/home.htm The Center is a licensed non-profit organization.
Behzad Ranjbaran’s
Persian Trilogy This new release on Delos International introduces important music new to most American classical music lovers. Behzad Ranjbaran, the composer, was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1955. Well-educated musically during his childhood, he came to the United States in 1974 and completed his studies at Indiana University and the Juilliard School in New York where he is now on the faculty. Even after thirty years in the United States Ranjbaran’s music remains infused with Persian modes, folk rhythms and ornamental melodic figures. Critics have described it as "beautiful," "ravishing" with "radi-ant luminescence." "He plays the colors of the orchestra with an unconscious mastery… with grace and ease." His compositions include a Violin Concerto, a Cello Concerto and other large scale vocal and orchestral works. He has received many awards from various Art Councils, the National Endowment for the Arts, ASCAP and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Ranjbaran composed the three orchestral works featured on this new Delos CD under the title "Persian Trilogy" over a period of eleven years. All three were inspired by stories from Shahnameh, the Book of Kings, the great Persian epic poem written by legendary Persian poet Ferdowsi (c.940–c.1020). This ancient saga, 60,000 verses in length, incorporates legends and mythology from the creation of the world to Persia’s conquest by Arab conquerors in the 7th century CE. Even today it is considered one of the most significant works in Persian literature. Ranjbaran used three episodes from this epic as the basis for his music. First came Seemorgh,a tone poem in three movements describing the fabulous magical bird Seemorgh (which we know as the Phoenix) her involvement with humankind and the natural elements surrounding her: the mountain, the moonlight and the sunrise.
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Next came The Blood of Seyavash, conceived as a ballet in seven movements, relating the story of Prince Seyavash as young prince and heir, his seduction and betrayal, his trial by fire, his tormented loy-alties, the seeds of envy, his idyllic love, and the prophecies fulfilled. The final work of the Trilogy, Seven Passages, derives its inspiration from an episode in Shahnameh titled The Seven Trials of Rostam. The principal hero of the poem is Rostam, who spends much of his lifetime fighting on behalf of the Persian kings. Seven Passages refers to seven encounters Rostam undergoes while traveling to rescue the king, Kavus, and his countrymen, from an enemy territory where they have been imprisoned. Rostam’s heroic struggle and all its pain, tragedy, self doubt, joy and ultimate victory are reflected in this vivid piece which also incorporates elements from the other two compositions in the trilogy. Ranjbaran’s music throughout the Trilogy is almost cinematic in its descriptive flow. Although tight-ly structured, it projects a highly dramatic series of musical pictures utilizing the entire orchestra and making virtuosic demands on all the orchestral soloists. This is music of today, saturated in rich exotic melody, harmonically adventurous, yet highly listenable. Ranjbaran proves as adept at musical storytelling as the legendary Sheherazade. His visions of Persia are as mesmerizing to us as hers were to her fascinated lover. Two of the three pieces were premiered in 1993 and 2000 by the adventurous Long Beach, California Symphony conducted by the dynamic JoAnn Falletta. The third, The Blood of Seyavash, originally com-missioned as a ballet score, was first given by the Nashville Ballet in 1994. All three compositions have now been reunited for this recording. The conductor is the same as at the two Long Beach premieres, JoAnn Falletta, known for her enthusiastic advocacy of contemporary music, and are performed on our Delos recording by the London Symphony Orchestra, recognized as one of the finest orchestras in Europe. To know more about the composer, his music and the Trilogy, log on to www.behzadranjbaran.com. "I have come to realize that in real life, courageous acts are not limited only to heroes. Unsung heroes perform countless acts of courage and struggle daily." — Behzad Ranjbaran
JOANN FALLETTA, conductor Seven Passages (13:39) Seemorgh [22:07] The Mountain (5:55) The Blood of Seyavash [42:28] The Young Prince and Heir (9:14) TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 78:21 Producer: Michael Fine
This is the book which is currently
being used for the script of the movie "One Night with the King"
starring Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole Luke Goss and Tiffany Dupont
about the life of King Xerxes and Queen Esther
The film is due in March 25th 2005 Farah Pahlavi breakfast with
David Frost (BBC) Breakfast with David Frost is probably one of the
most watched shows on David Frost Interviewed Farah Pahlavi, Former Empress of Iran December 12, 2004 Interview DAVID FROST: It's now 25 years since the Shah of Iran was deposed in one of the most dramatic overthrows of power of the 20th century. Before he was forced to relinquish the Peacock throne I interviewed him at Persepolis the ancient symbol of Persian kingship and I asked him what was the common bond that united the Iranian people With months the Islamic revolution headed by Ayatollah Khomema changed everything and the Shah and his family were forced to flee Iran, never to return, never yet to return anyway. I interviewed the Shah again in exile in Panama in January 1980 and he died six months later in Egypt. |
At his side throughout the whole of the last 21 years of his life was his Empress, Farah Pahlavi. Ma'am, welcome. Very good to have you here.
FARAH PAHLAVI: Good morning, thank you for inviting me. DAVID FROST: And seeing your husband, your late husband there. When you met him, how long was it between ... was it love at first sight? FARAH PAHLAVI: Well I must say that of course I always loved the King as a citizen, the loyal citizen to her King. But after many meetings of course this love turned from a person to his king to a love of a woman to a man. DAVID FROST: And I suppose perhaps one of the happiest moments of your whole time together was when you were able to give birth to your first child who was a son, the son and heir that he so hoped for. That must have been a moment of ecstasy? FARAH PAHLAVI: Yes, it was. It was a wonderful moment, not only for us but also for all our compatriots. And also so many moments of other happiness with my other children. And whatever happened positive for our country. DAVID FROST: And when we were talking in that clip, I think probably looking back on it now, the Shah probably overestimated the power that the King had over the people and probably underestimated the power that the Mullahs had? FARAH PAHLAVI: Well not being where we are now today, of course we think back and in spite of what has happened in Iran and the revolution and the 25 years, now we're looking back and with hindsight of course we could have seen the problems better, we maybe could have managed, the problems better ... And also it was a mistake from our part and also in the government and I guess the mistake of the people in the streets and many of the opposition that thought that Khomeni who had promised them paradise, will give them paradise. But unfortunately he opened the door to hell. DAVID FROST: And at the same time, I mean, I suppose the two things people quoted a lot about that time were of course the activities of SAVAK and of corruption and so on. But do you think the real problem, because this is something I ask prime ministers about, how do you keep in touch with what people are thinking and so on? And the answer is that they try, but with an absolute monarch, presumably people apart from you, tell a Shah what they think he wants to hear? FARAH PAHLAVI: It's possible that around every power there are people who want to only give the good news. But we have to consider Iran in the context of that period. We had our big neighbour, the Soviet Union, who always dreamt to reach the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. We had religious fanatics and seeing the result now, we see that we didn't see some of the dissatisfactions. But, having said that, when you look back in the last 25 years I can not stop myself comparing what was the situation of the Iranians 25 years ago and what was the situation of Iran, and also in the Middle East, and what would have happened if the revolution didn't happen. And I think really that with all the shortcomings we had, like any other country or any other regime, we didn't need such a horrible revolution. DAVID FROST: Did you feel betrayed in that last year, year and a half, when you had been ousted from Iran and the United States' President Carter and others didn't really give you the support that you thought you'd earned? FARAH PAHLAVI: Well Sir David, you know it was a very difficult time. And sometimes unbearable. But we had to survive, I had to survive for my husband, for my children, for my own dignity. And you know, for foreign politics and power you can understand they are after what they think is their national interest. And after all a government had changed. But we at the same time received many letters and many supporting words from simple people, and that kept us going on. And I can consider that life is a struggle for all of us, no matter in what position we are relative to opposition. DAVID FROST: Talking of struggle and so on, when I was doing the interview with the Shah in exile the Khomeni regime were announcing to the world that you as a family, and the Shah, had left Iran with 176 billion dollars. I presume that was not true? FARAH PAHLAVI: Of course it's not true. It's all the propaganda of the regime and also all the opposition. The King was a patriot. He loved his country above all, and its people. And I must assure you now people realise that that was all propaganda and I hope today the same people who wrote or said about this supposedly billions, think of the corruption which exists today in Iran. DAVID FROST: And finally, would you like George Bush, President Bush, would you like him to do in Iran what he's done in Iraq, and go in and have a regime change? FARAH PAHLAVI: This is the most undesirable thing to happen. Iranians I think which are really desperate for change, desperate for freedom and democracy. And I am sure with the help of the Iranians inside and outside of Iran, and with the help and the moral help of the freedom-loving people of the world, Iranian people will reach democracy and freedom. Empress Farah book signing in French Winter Villiage
Queen Farah with her grandchildren |
