— Aficionados of Western classical music have carved out a niche for themselves in Iran, where cultural expression remains tightly controlled by strict rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“Classical music is growing, and as you see, the audience, they are really supporting the arts and classical music,” he told The Associated Press during the intermission of Wednesday’s sold-out concert. In February, female guitarist Negin Parsa sang a solo during a concert by pop singer Hamid Askari. The authorities cut her microphone, and Askari’s permission to perform was briefly suspended.
The US walked away from the deal a year ago, instead of embarking on a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, including unprecedented economic sanctions. Yet tensions and fear of escalation are a “major big black cloud hovering over the country,” he said.