Ardebil-- Executive director of the Austrian Cultural and artistic institute, Festspielhaus, Reinhard Gosch here Wednesday said that a four-day opera `Rostam and Sohrab' will be performed in Tehran from August 22 to mark the birth millennium of prominent Iranian epic poet Abol-Qasem Ferdowsi.

Gosch told IRNA that the opera is to be performed by 125 Austrian musicians and singers in Tehran's Milad Hall. It will be conducted by the Iranian musician Loris Cheknovariyan.

The opera is based on one of the episodes of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). It is the story of Rostam and his son Sohrab, who come face to face for the first time in their lives as opponents from two strange lands and Rostam is eventually led into shedding the blood of his own son.

"Broadening cultural and art exchanges between Iran and Austria through the performance of diverse concerts by the artists of both countries is of top priority to U.S.," he added. He said, "In a world full of difficulties, war and tension turning to art, literature and culture will provide new opportunities for peace and dialogue among civilizations to the public." According to him, dialogue among civilizations, philosophy, art, culture and various religions will develop a new outlook on the world .