TEHRAN -- The Iranian music group Ham-Ava is performing some pieces based on the Iranian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi’s great work the Shahnameh (The Epic of Kings) during a three-day festival at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center.

The festival, which began yesterday, is part of a program of celebrations held in commemoration of Ferdowsi, whose National Day is May 15.

Ham-Ava performed the wedding story of Rustam’s parents, Zal and Rudabeh, yesterday.

Other stories that are scheduled to be performed are the Wedding of Rustam and Tamineh, and the Mourning Ceremony of Sohrab, which will be performed on May 15 and 16 respectively.

Ham-Ava was established in 1999 and has focused on performing Shahnameh-themed stories. The conductor of the 15-member group, Mehdi Namdar, composes the musical pieces in a way that portrays his perception of the atmosphere of the stories, which are sung by Majid Vahid and Mojtaba Asgari.

A number of Iranian scholars are slated to deliver lectures at the festival. Art and book exhibitions on the theme of Ferdowsi will be held as sidelines of the event.