The Tehran Symphony Orchestra will perform the acclaimed work on August 6 and 7 at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall under guest conductor Arash Amini, accompanied by a choir led by Behrang Shegarfkar and vocalist Hadi Feyzabadi.
Composed by Mohammad-Saeed Sharifian, “Khosouf” is regarded as one of the landmark works of contemporary Iranian symphonic music. Inspired by the events of Ashura and the epic of Karbala, the composition blends orchestral and choral music to convey themes of sacrifice, grief, faith, freedom, and the pursuit of truth. The work incorporates nine traditional Ashura lamentation melodies selected after months of research into classical literary texts and mourning chants.
The symphony was first staged in 2003 to mark Arbaeen, with performances by the Tehran Symphony Orchestra alongside Romanian choir members. It was later invited to Romania, where it was performed by the Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra and broadcast live on national radio. A studio recording was released several years later.
Amini described “Khosouf” as “one of the greatest and most significant musical works produced after the Islamic Revolution,” noting that repeated attempts to revive it over the years had failed because of its technical complexity and the extensive orchestral, choral, and rehearsal requirements.
He said the Rudaki Foundation’s support this year made the production possible after months of preparation and more than 20 rehearsal sessions.
Recalling the symphony’s original performances, Amini said today’s orchestra members are “far more accomplished” than two decades ago, citing the younger generation’s technical proficiency and broader exposure to international musical developments.
He added that the composer has personally supervised rehearsals to ensure the performance remains faithful to the original score.
