Behzad Ranjbaran,
Composer

Behzad Ranjbaran’s music has been performed by soloists Fleming, Joshua Bell, and Yo-Yo Ma, among others. In June 2008, Jean-Yves Thibaudet premiered his piano concerto, commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and conducted by Robert Spano. Songs of Eternity on the Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam, was written for the soprano Renée Fleming and premiered with the Seattle Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. Joshua Bell was the soloist in the premiere performances of the Violin Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, also conducted by Schwarz. Bell went on to give the work’s North American premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony conducted by Mario Venzago, and subsequent performances with Peter Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony. International Sejong Soloists commissioned Awakening at for the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea as a celebration of peace.

Recordings include Persian Trilogy on the Delos label by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta. This orchestral cycle, comprising the works Seven Passages, Seemorgh, and The Blood of Seyavash, takes its inspiration from ancient Persian legends, as recounted in the 11th century epic poem “Shahnameh” (The Book of Kings). In August 2008, Toronto Symphony Orchestra performed a multimedia performance of Persian Trilogy with traditional storytelling and projections of Persian miniatures. In the past two seasons, the following chamber works were premiered: Fountains of Fin, a eulogy for Amir Kabir, and Shiraz and Isfahan which celebrate two of the composer’s favorite cities in Iran. In the summer of 2005, Ranjbaran was composer-in-residence for the 40th anniversary of the Saratoga Music Festival. In celebration of the occasion, he composed the orchestral overture Saratoga.

Ranjbaran’s music has been described variously as having “qualities of inherent beauty and strong musical structure that make it a satisfying musical entity” (Nashville Scene), and “radiant luminescence” (The Washington Post). In describing the Persian Trilogy CD, American Record Guide said, “Ranjbaran has composed a noble and brilliantly conceived score, spectacularly orchestrated and filled with memorable tunes, meticulous development, and impressive craftsmanship.”

Ranjbaran, born in 1955 in Tehran, Iran, is the recipient of the Rudolf Nissim Award for his Violin Concerto. His musical education started at the age of nine when he entered the Tehran Music Conservatory. He came to the United States in 1974 where he attended Indiana University. He received his doctorate in composition from The Juilliard School where he currently serves on the faculty. His honors include a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a grant from Meet the Composer, and a Charles Ives Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Ranjbaran was named a “Distinguished Artist” by the New Jersey Council on the Arts.