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Behzad

Behzad


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Alastair Willis conducted Ranjbaran's Seven Passages with South Bend Symphony Orchestra, on February 1, 2020.  This performance was in Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana.

  * The soprano Gabriella Reyes performed Ranjbaran's "Songs of Eternity" with the Montclair Symphony Orchestra, David Chan, conductor on September 22, 2019.

* Roberto Diaz performed Behzad Ranjbaran's Viola Concerto with South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its music director, David Delta Gier, on February 25, 2017.  This performance was in Washington Paviolion in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

* Érik Gratton performed and recorded Ranjbaran's Flute Concerto with Nashville Symphony, on April 14-15, 2017.  Nashville music director, Giancarlo Guerrero conducted these performances in Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville, Tennessee. The recording was released by Naxos in 2018.

Learn more about Ranjbaran's Flute Concerto and Nashville performances. The Flute Concerto was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and premiered by Jeffrey Khaner and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor.

* Ranjbaran's Shiraz for piano trio is performed on May 20, 2017 by members of Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, Texas.  The members of the trio are Gary Levinson, violin, Allan Steele, cello, and John Owings, piano.  Shiraz Piano Trio was inspired by the city of Shiraz in Southern Iran, famous for its poets, historic gardens, nightingales, and wine. Learn more about this concert, and the Shiraz Piano Trio

* Ranjbaran's Dance of Life for, violin and double bass, is performed by Duoming Ba, violin, and Satoshi Okamoto, double bass on October 9, 2016 in Merkin Hall, New York City. The concert is part of the New York Philharmonic Chamber Series at Merkin Hall.
Dance of Life was inspired by a poem by the great 14th century Persian poet, Hafiz. It was commissioned and recorded by Eugene Levinson, former principal bass of the New York Philharmonic.  Learn more on Dance of Life.

* Ranjbaran's Fountains of Fin for flute, violin and cello, and Elegy for cello and piano are performed on March 19, 2016 by Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, Texas.  Fountains of Fin is performed by Demare McGill, flute, Gary Levinson, violin, and Jesús Catro-Balbi, cello, who will also perform the Elegy for cello and piano. This concert is performed in the beautiful Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.  Fountains of Fin was inspired by the splendid Garden of Fin in Kashan, Iran, celebrated for its tall cypresses, fragrant flowers, and hundreds of fountains as well as its dark and violent history. Learn more: about this concert. Learn more: Fountains of Fin

*  "Lexington Piano Trio" performs Ranjbaran's Shiraz on March 6, 2016 in Queens, New York.  Members of the Lexington Piano Trio are Cyrus Beroukhim, violin, Arash Amini, cello, and Barbara Podgurski, piano. Shiraz was inspired by the city of Shiraz in Southern Iran, famous for its poets, historic gardens, nightingales, and wine. Learn more about this concert, and the Shiraz Piano Trio

* MidAtlantic Opera performed Ranjbaran's "ELegy for Cello and Strings" on October 17, 2015 in Carnegie Hall.  This concert was tiled "A Prayer for Peace" celebrating triumph of peace over conflict.  It featured Ranjbaran's Elegy which is the transcription of the slow movement of his Cello Concerto.  Read more about Ranjbaran's Cello Concerto
 
* Pedro Halffter conducts the Spanish premiere of Seven Passages by Ranjbaran.  Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria performs the work in Gran Canaria in Canary Islands, Spain on November 13, 2015.  Seven Passages is part of Ranjbaran's Persian Trilogy inspired by the 10th centuryepic Persian poem "Book of Kings", the epic poem written by Ferdowsi, in10th century.

* Eugenia Zukerman presents  Fountains of Fin  in the opening night of Leaf Peeper Chamber Series on September 12, 2015.  It is performed by Eugenia Zukerman, flute, Gary Levinson, violin, and Suren Bagratuni, cello.  Fountains of Fin was inspired by the splendid garden of Fin in Kashan, Iran, celebrated for its tall cypresses, fragrant flowers, and hundreds of fountains as well as its dark and violent history.
Learn more: Fountains of Fin

* Ranjbaran's "Fountains of Fin"for flute, violin, and cello is published by Theodore Presser Co. "Fountains of Fin" celebrates the 16th century garden of Fin in Kashan,Iran, famed for its hundreds of spring-fed fountains.  Hear and learnmore about the "Fountains of Fin".

* Jeffrey Khaner performs Behzad Ranjbaran's Flute Concerto with Lynn Philharmonia, conducted by its music director Guillermo Figueroa, on February 8-9, 2015.  These performances are in World Performing Arts Center in Palm Beach, Florida. 

* Eckart Preu conducts Spokane Symphony Seven Passages by Ranjbaran on March 28-29, 2015, in Spokane, Washington.  Seven Passagesis part of Ranjbaran's Persian Trilogy inspired by the 10th centuryepic Persian poem "Book of Kings", the epic poem written by Ferdowsi, in10th century.  Learn more on "Seven Passages" and the Spokane performances.

*Han-Na Chang conducts the Qatar Philharmonic in the UK premiere of The Sunrise, the third movement of Seemorgh, in Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 7, 2014. This performance is part of 2014 BBC Proms, and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 on DAB, Digital TV, and online.  Also it will be broadcast on BBC Four on September 12th.  Lean more about Seemorgh (from the Persian Trilogy) and this performance.
Click here for the BBC report

* Barbara Schubert conducts Ranjbaran’ s Seven Passages with DuPage Symphony Orchestra on October 11, 2014 in
Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, Illinois. "Seven Passages" is part of Ranjbaran's Persian Trilogy inspired by the "Book of Kings". Learn more about Seven Passages and this performance.

* Fountains of Fin receives its Canadian premiere on August 14, 2014, in Pender Harbor Chamber Music Festival.  It is performed by Eugenia Zukerman, flute, Gary Levinson,violin, and Suren Bagratuni, cello.  Fountains of Fin wasinspired by the splendid garden of Fin in Kashan, Iran, celebrated forits tall cypresses, fragrant flowers, and hundreds of fountains as well as its dark and violent history.

* Elissa Lee Koljonen performs Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto with South Dakota Symphony Orchestra,conducted by its music director, Delta David Gier on February 22,2014.  Several years ago, Elissa Lee Koljonen was the soloistin Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra withJoAnn Falletta, conductor in a performance in Verizon Hall,Philadelphia. 

*Andrés Franco conducts the Latin American premiere of Ranjbaran'MithraOrquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia  is performing the work on April 25, 2014 in Bogota, Colombia.  Mithrafor orchestra was inspired by the ancient mythology of Mithra, the Iraninan sun-god. The piece was commissioned by Magnum Opus project, and three orchestrasof Marin, East Bay Symphony and Santa Rosa in California. Learn more about Mithra.

* The recording of Ranjbaran’s "Songs of Eternity" for sopranoand orchestra is released. Hanan Alattar is the soprano with MiguelHarth-Bedoya conducting the Fort Worth Symphony.  The text for "Songs ofEternity" is drawn from the English translation of the Rubaiyat of OmarKhayyam, the 12th century mystic Persian poet.  Please see the "recordings".

* Naxos released anall-Ranjbaran string album (Awakening. Elegy).  The new album (recordedby Sejong Soloists) is comprised of the following works:

- Awakening for string orchestra
- Moto Perpetuo for violin and string orchestra
- Elegy
for cello and string orchestra
- Six Caprices for Violin Duo
- Elegy
for strings
- String Quartet

More information about each piece is found under WORKS

* Mithra received its German premiere by MDR Symphony Orchestra in Leipzig, Germany.  Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducted the work in Gewandhaus Hall on January, 27, 2013.  Mithrafor orchestra was inspired by the ancient mythology of Mithra, the Iraninan sun god. The piece was commissioned by Magnum Opus project, and three orchestrasof Marin, East Bay Symphony and Santa Rosa. Learn more about Mithra.

* Mithra is performed by Fort Worth Symphony, Miguel Harth Bedoya, conductor on January 10-12, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas.  Mithrafor orchestra was inspired by the ancient mythology of Mithra, the Iraninan sun god. The piece was commissioned by Magnum Opus project, and three orchestrasof Marin, East Bay Symphony and Santa Rosa. Learn more about Mithra.

*Charles Dutoit conducts Ranjbaran’s “Saratoga” with the Philadelphia Orchestra in San Francisco as part of the centennial celebration of San Francisco Symphony on June 10, 2012.   This performance marks the west coast premiere of “Saratoga” which was originally commissioned for the 40th anniversary of the Philadelphia Orchestra residency at the Saratoga Festival in New York.  Learn more about "Saratoga" in the works page.

*On August 12, 2012 Marin Alsop conducted Ranjbaran's "Seven Passages" duringthe 50th anniversary celebration of the Cabrillo Festival in Santa Cruz,California.  This performance was part of Ranjbaran's residency with thefestival as well as working with the music director Marin Alsopoverseeing the Conductor/Composer workshop.  "Seven Passages" is part of Ranjbaran's Persian Trilogy inspired by the "Book of Kings".  More on "Seven Passages" and the Cabrillo performance.

* Alastair Willis conducted the Middle East premiere of Ranjbaran’s Seven Passages with Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra on June 2, 2012 in the Opera House, Doha, Qatar.  Learn more about Seven Passages and this performance.

* Ranjbaran's "Enchanted Garden" for piano quintetreceived its Italian premiere in Florence on May 12, 2012  "Enchanted Garden" wasinspired by the Garden of Eram in Shiraz, one of the most storied andbeautiful gardens in Iran. It is so appropriate that the "EnchantedGarden" is being performed in the historic Pitti Palace Museum nearBoboli, one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Italy. Thequintet was originally commissioned and premiered during Ranjbaran'sresidency with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Saratoga Springs, NY in2005.  Further information about the Florence performance.

* Concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra was performed by Boise Philharmonic in Idaho on April 20-21, 2012.  Robert Franz conducted these performances with Geoffrey Trabichoff, violin, and David Johnson, viola.  The Double Concerto was commissioned and premiered by Virginia Symphony, 2009.

*  Manhattan Trio performs Ranjbaran’s Shirazfor piano trioin Santa Fe, Arizona, February 24, 2012.  Manhattan Trio (MilanaStrezeva, piano, Wayne Lee, violin, Dmitry Kouzov, cello) will also playShiraz in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on March 16, 2012.

* William Harvey performed the Mexican premiere of Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto in the "Festival de Mayo", Guadalajara May 22, 2011.  Toshiyuki Shimada conducted the festival orchestra.  Read more about the Violin Concerto and this performance in the  Festival de Mayo in Mexico.

* Jean-Yves Thibaudet performed the West coast premiere of Ranjbaran's Piano Concerto in Cabrillo Festival with Marin Alsop conducting, August 6, 2011.  This performance is part of Ranjbaran's residency with the Cabrillo Festival. The new concerto was commissioned and premiered by Thibaudet andAtlanta Symphony Orchestra in June, 2008, with Robert Spano conducting.

* Fountains of Finreceived its Swiss premiere on July 24, 2011 in the Verbier Festival,Switzerland.  It was performed by Eugenia Zukerman, flute, Ye-Eun Choi,violin, and Maximillian Hornung, cello.  Fountains of Fin wasinspired by the splendid garden of Fin in Kashan, Iran, celebrated forits tall cypresses, and hundreds of fountains as well as its dark andbrutal history. 

* Dance of Life for Violin and Double Bass was performed in Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine on July 13th, 2011.  Cyrus Forough, violin and Kurt Muroki, double bass were the performers in this concert.   "Dance ofLife" was inspired by a poem by Hafiz, the lyrical Persian poet from14th century.  Learn more about the  Dance of Life.

* Musica Sacra performs the New York premiere of Behzad Ranjbaran's "We Are One" inAlice Tully Hall on May 13, 2011.  The text for "We Are One" by belovedPersian poet Sa'di is arguably the most famous poem in Persianliterature.  It has been celebrated for centuries for its universalityand empathy for all human beings. Learn more about this performance.

* Mithra is performed by Marin Symphony Orchestra, Alasdair Neale, conductor on May 1 and 3, 2011 in San Rafael, California. Mithrafor orchestra was inspired by the ancient mythology of Mithra, the Iraninan sun god. The piece was commissioned by Magnum Opus project, and three orchestrasof Marin, East Bay Symphony and Santa Rosa. Learn more about Mithra.

*
Oakland East Bay Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Morgan, performs Ranjbaran's Seemorgh on March 18, 2011. Seemorgh was recorded by LondongSymphony Orchestra under a CD titled Persian Trilogy, conducted by JoAnn Falletta. 

* New Jersey Symphony performed Ranjbaran's Seemorgh, Jacques Lacombe, conductor.  The concerts on February 25-27, 2011 marked the New Jersey premiere ofSeemorgh (part of Persian Trilogy). Seemorgh was recorded by LondonSymphony Orchestra in a CD titled Persian Trilogy, conducted by JoAnn Falletta.

*
Theodore Presser has published the study score of Seven Passages for orchestra (part of Persian Trilogy).  Seven Passages was inspired by an episode in Shahnameh (the Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi.  Learn more about Seven Passages, Persian Trilogy, and Shahnameh.

* Gagliano Trio performed the Austrian premiere of Ranjbaran's Shiraz piano trio on March 30, 2011 in Bregenz, Austria.


* Gagliano Trio performed the Swiss premiere of Ranjbaran's Shiraz piano trio on December 28, 2010 in Rüttihubeliade Festival in Bern, Switzerland.

* Jean-Yves Thibaudet performed Ranjbaran's Piano Concerto with Philadelphia Orchestra, Robert Spano conducting.  These performances on December 10-12, 2010, marked the Philadelphia premiere of Ranjbaran's Piano Concerto. The new concerto was commissioned and premiered by Thibaudet andAtlanta Symphony Orchestra in June, 2008, with Robert Spano conducting.

* Shiraz piano trio received its Italian premiereby Manhattan Trio.  The concert wason November 25, 2010 presented by Associazione Filarmonica di Rovereto.

* Violin Concertowas performed by Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic Orchestra, Ronald Zollman conductor, on November 20, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The soloist, Sandro Leal-Santiesteban was the student winner in the concerto competition in Carnegie Mellon School of Music.

* Ranjbaran's Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra was premiered by Virginia Symphony, JoAnn Falletta, conductor, on October 22, 2009.  Vahn Armstrong, concertmaster and Beverly Baker, principal viola were the soloists. The Double Concerto was the result of a special award from ASCAP to conductor JoAnn Falletta to commission a composer of her choice.

* Mithra for orchestra waspremiered by Santa Rosa Symphony in California on February 13-15, 2010with Bruno Ferrandis conducting.  "Mithra" was inspired by the Persianmythology and commissioned by the Magnum Opus Project/ Meet the Composerin conjunction with orchestras of Marin Symphony, Oakland East BaySymphony and Santa Rosa Symphony. Read more about Mithra.

* George Stelluto conducts Peoria Symphony on a performance of Seven Passages (part of Persian Trilogy) on February 13, 2010 in Peoria, Illinois.

* Awakening for Orchestra was performed by River Oaks Chamber Orchestra conducted by Joel Smirnoff on October 10,11, 2009 in Houston, Texas.

* Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto was performed by Curtis Symphony Orchestra, Elissa Lee Koljonen, violin; JoAnn Falletta, conductor, October 25, 2009 in Symphony Hall, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

* Ranjbaran's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra was performed by Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Wesley Baldwin, cello, Brendan Townsend, conductor on October 25, 2009 in Laredo, Texas.  Brendan Towsend also conducted Seven Passages with Laredo Philharmonic in his 2007-8 season as well.

Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto was performed by Elissa Lee Koljonen, violin, in the Curtis Gala concert on October 27, 2009 in Verizon Hall, Philadelphia.   In this performance, JoAnn Falletta conducted the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Listen to this performance on Instant Encore.

* Michael Christie conducts "Seven Passages" as part of the Colorado Music Festival "East Meets West" program on July 9,10, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado.

* Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of Charles Dutoit, performs Ranjbaran's Saratoga overture on August 12, 2009 in Saratoga Springs.  Ranjbaran composed the Saratoga overture in 2005 for the 40th anniversary of the Philadelphia Orchestra's residency at Saratoga Springs Music Festival.

* "Songs of Eternity" and "Awakening" were performed by Fort Worth Symphony, Miguel Harth-Bedoya conductor, on April 17, 18, 19 2009.  These performances were part of Ranjbaran's residency with Fort Worth Symphony during 2008-2009 season.

* Seven Passages was performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson conducting, on March 20, 2009 in Saint Louis, Missouri.  

* The Blood of Seyavash (part of Persian Trilogy) was performed by the Fort Worth Symphony, conducted by Miguel Harth - Bedoya in October and November as part of Ranjbaran's residency with the orcehstra in 2008-09.

* A multimedia production of Ranjbaran's Persian Trilogy received its world premiere on August 2, 2008 by Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta and Morshed Torabi as narrator.  This event was sponsored by International Society for Iranian Studies in commemoration of Shahnameh's millennium. For further information read the press release.

* Ranjbaran's Cello Concerto was performed by Ann Alton, cello, and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, David Gilbert, conducter on July 27, 2008 in Lake Placid, New York.

* JoAnn Falletta and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra performed "Seven Passages" (part of Persian Trilogy) on August 7, 2008 in Chautauqua, New York.

* Behzad Ranjbaran named the composer-in-residence for Fort Worth Symphony during the 2008-2009 year. Under the baton of Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Ranjbaran's Awakenings, Songs of Eternity, and selections from The Blood of Seyavash were performed.

* Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Atlanta Symphony under the baton of Robert Spano premiered Ranjbaran's Piano Concerto on June 5,7, 8 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.

* The Philadelphia Orchestra performed Ranjbaran's "Seven Passages" (part of Persian Trilogy) on March 29 and 31, 2008 as part of its Family Series (Legends and Music).

* Brooklyn Philharmonic in conjunction with the Brooklyn Museum Middle Eastern and Islamic Collections presented Shiraz Trio as part of its Shades of Babylon Program. This concert took place on Sunday March 30, 2008, at 2:00 pm at the Brooklyn Museum.

* "Fountains of Fin" for flute, violin and cello was performed on August 29,30,31 2008 by Bargemusic in Brooklyn, New York.  It was commissioned by Bargemusic, through an award from the New York State Music Fund. The piece celebrates one of the most enchanting gardens in the world, the historical Garden of Fin in Kashan, Iran built in 16th century.

* Cho-Liang Lin performes Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto with Allentown Symphony, Diane Wittry conductor, on February 9 & 10, 2008.

* The New World Symphony, performs the U.S. premiere of Behzad Ranjbaran's "Awakening" in Miami, Florida on Septmebr 15, 2007, conducted by Joel Smirnoff. "Awakening" was commissioned and premiered by International Sejong Soloists in Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in 2005. "Awakening" for String Orchestra, a reflection of war and peace is in one movement. The main five-note motif of "Awakening" is used to construct an "Arc de Triomphe" in music, visually crating a symbolic gesture to represent the triumph of peace over conflict.

* Paul Tobias performs Ranjbaran's Cello Concerto with Mansfield Symphony with Conductor Robert Frantz, on September 29, 2007 in Mansfield, Ohio. Paul Tobias premiered Ranjbaran's cello concerto and recorded it with Virginia Symphony in 2000.

* Renée Fleming performs "Songs of Eternity" on March 6, 2007 at Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's Gala concert. "Songs of Eternity" was written for Renée Fleming and was premiered by her with the Seattle Symphony under the baton of Gerard Schwarz in 2002.

* "Isfahan" is premiered by Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble on March 23, 25, 2007, in Philadelphia. It was commissioned in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the ensemble.

* Seven Passages, part of Persian Trilogy, was performed on November & December 2006 by Buffalo Philharmonic and Reading Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Franz.

* Paul Tobias performs Ranjbaran's Elegy for cello & piano on a faculty recital in Mannes College in New York. Elegy is the second movement of Ranjbaran's Cello Concerto which Mr. Tobias originally commissioned and recorded in 2000. The recital was scheduled for October 11, 2006. 

* Shiraz, for violin, cello and piano was premiered in New York City from August 31 through September 3, 2006. Commissioned by Bargemusic to inaugurate its new season, the new work was inspired by the city of Shiraz, famous for its poets, jasmine, rose gardens and wine. Shiraz was premiered by Mark Peskanov, violin, Edward Aaron, cello, and Olga Vinokur, piano.

* Allan Kay and the American Dream Chamber Players premiered Ranjbaran's Elegy for clarinet, English horn, harp and strings in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on June 4, 2006.

* William Harvey and the Juilliard Orchestra under the direction of Gerard Schwarz performed the New York premiere of Ranjbaran's violin Concerto in Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on April 10, 2006. Ranjbaran's violin concerto was selected by the violin faculty at the Juilliard School as the 2006 violin concerto competition for the school's Centennial Celebration. READ RANJBARAN'S INTERVIEW IN JUILLIARD JOURNAL.

* On September 17, 2005, Yo-Yo Ma performed Ranjbaran's Elegy for Cello and Orchestra (Second movement of his Cello Concerto) at the Buffalo Philharmonic's opening night gala with JoAnn Falletta conducting.

* Chantal Juillet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of Charles Dutoit, performed the Ranjbaran's Violin Concerto in Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on August 20, 2005.

* Ranjbaran's Piano Quintet received its world premiere on August 14, 2005. This work was written on a commission from Saratoga Chamber Music Festival as part of his summer residency with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, New York.

* The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit premiered "Saratoga", Ranjbaran's new orchestral work, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of SPAC on August 10, 2005.

* On August 5, 2005, International Sejong Soloists gave the world premiere of Ranjbaran's commissioned string orchestra piece, "Awakening", at the opening concert of the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea. On August 3rd, 2005, an excerpt of the piece was performed in the Demilitarized Zone as part of a peace festival. This event was broadcast by the Korean Broadcast Corporation.

* On July 29 and 31, 2005, Cantieri Internazionale D'Arte in Montepulciano, Italy, offered the Italian premiere of Ranjbaran's "Dance of Life" and "Open Secret".

* On March 31, 2005, Joshua Bell gave the American premiere of Ranjbaran's Violin Voncerto with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mario Venzago. The following week, Joshua Bell performed the Canadian premiere of teh concerto with the Toronto Symphony conducted by Peter Oundjian.

Behzad

Behzad
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