TEHRAN -- The Tehran Academic Orchestra gave a concert on Sunday in honor of veteran Iranian composer, Hossein Dehlavi, at Vahdat Hall where giants of music Mohammadreza Shajarian, Hushang Zarif and Shahdad Rohani took part.

Led by conductor Amin Salemi and accompanied by singer Hamid Khazaii, the orchestra dedicated its winter concert to compositions by master Dehlavi.
Compositions “In Memory of Saba” and “Breezy” were the two pieces by the master that were selected for the concert.
Afterwards, the giant of traditional music, Mohammadreza Shajarian, was called on stage to present the plaque of honor to master musician Dehlavi.
The ceremony continued with a performance from violinist Babak Shahraki, the student of violin virtuoso, Homayun Khorram.
Khorram was out of town and he was unable to attend the ceremony, but his recorded message was played for the audience.
The message contained a tribute to the master and his full attention of Iranian traditional music. Khorram also expressed his hope to see the master healthy and that he will produce more compositions in the future.
The ceremony was brought to a close with several other musical pieces, including “Persian Gulf” composed by Babak Shahraki.
Dehlavi was born in 1927 in Tehran and studied composition at the Tehran Conservatory of Music with Hossein Nasehi. He studied Persian music with Abolhassan Saba. He was director of Saba Orchestra and the Academy of National Music.
Dehlavi’s works include several compositions and three operas.
Photo: Hossein Dehlavi (C) walks through the crowd after a concert performed by the Tehran Academic Orchestra to honor him at Vahdat Hall on March 6, 2011. Iranian vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian and musicians Hushang Zarif and Majid Derakhshani are applauding behind him. (Mehr/Babak Borzuyeh)