The Naghmeh Baran National Orchestra has been active in Iran’s music scene for several years and, despite all the ups and downs that orchestral music in Iran has faced, it continues to survive. Under the direction of Ali Amirghasemi, the orchestra’s most recent performance—accompanied by the Kiana Khajeh Choir and conducted by Mohammadreza Safavi—presented a diverse repertoire on stage. The program included Reng-e Esfahan, Jelveh-ye Bostan, Sange Khara, Nimeh Shaban, Kaboutar, Concertino for Santur by Master Hossein Dehlavi, Be Yad-e Saba, Behesht-e Yad, Rafti, Ghogha-ye Setaregan, Az Man Bogzar, and finally Ey Iran. These were the pieces performed for an audience that, amid a wide array of pop music events, had chosen to attend an orchestral concert.

Compared to their previous performances, the orchestra delivered higher quality this time, and the overall sound was more polished. The string section was more cohesive and executed pizzicato passages with better coordination than in past performances. However, some weaknesses were noticeable in the woodwind section—particularly the oboe, which had rhythmic inaccuracies.

It seems we must acknowledge that the execution of dynamics has become a weak point for many orchestras and musicians in Iran, and Naghmeh Baran was no exception in this regard.

The Naghmeh Baran Orchestra also faced some quality-related issues in the vocal section. In fact, this orchestra has not delivered strong vocal performances for quite some time. In concerts where the repertoire includes vocal pieces, the singer plays a vital role and must be defensible both in terms of artistic quality and audience engagement. One reason the Naghmeh Baran Orchestra may have struggled to expand its audience over the years could be the weaknesses in this very area.

However, the highlight of the concert was the performance of the beautiful Concertino for Santur by Hossein Dehlavi, featuring santur soloist Amin Sadeghian. The orchestra managed to deliver a fairly successful rendition of the piece. It’s worth noting that Naghmeh Baran had previously performed this work in February 2022, and this time their interpretation was notably more mature and refined.

The orchestra is conducted by Mohammadreza Safavi. Over the years of working with Naghmeh Baran, Safavi has gained more confidence and artistic maturity. For this performance, they had put together a diverse and appealing program, which deserves praise.

There’s no doubt that Naghmeh Baran Orchestra is still grappling with certain challenges and must strive harder to progress further. Nevertheless, much of the improvement observed in the orchestra can be attributed to Safavi’s leadership in recent years.

Given its strong potential and capabilities—as well as the support it receives from the private sector and the material and moral backing of music enthusiasts in the country—the Naghmeh Baran Orchestra could look forward to a future full of diverse activities across Iran.

The Naghmeh Baran National Orchestra took the stage on the evening of Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Vahdat Hall.