Roozaaye Roshan: روزهای روشن
Sara Hamidi and Shardad Rohani
presents
Sara Hamidi & Shardad Rohani
Roozaaye Roshan
(روزهای روشن)
A Tribute to the legendary Hayedeh
This special virtual performance features the extraordinary Sara Hamidi, whose powerful and expressive vocals breathe new life into one of Hayedeh’s timeless classics. She is joined by the legendary Maestro Shardad Rohani, whose masterful conducting and acclaimed musical artistry elevate this unforgettable performance.
World Premiere
Wednesday, July 8
11:00 AM (Pacific Time)
Featured Artists
Sara Hamidi – Vocals
Shardad Rohani – Conductor
Composed by: Farid Zoland
Lyrics by: Ardalan Sarfaraz
Arranged by: Shardad Rohani
Recording Engineer: Aidan McLain
Directed by: Shahab Ettekal
Recorded at the legendary studios of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, home to the Farhang Foundation UCLA Program for Iranian Music, this production celebrates the enduring legacy of Iranian music through exceptional artistry and collaboration.
Farhang Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Dean Michael Beckerman, Dr. Shahab Paranj, and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music for their generous partnership and continued support of this recording.
About Sara Hamidi
Sara Hamidi, born in 1987 in Esfahan, began studying the Persian Radif at age 19 under Maedeh Tabatabaei. Her voice has been praised by renowned masters, including Mohammadreza Shajarian, for its unique character, allowing her to perform both Persian classical music and opera.
In 2012, she moved to France to continue her musical education due to restrictions on female singers in Iran. She studied opera from 2013 to 2022 at the National Conservatory of Saint-Maur and the École Normale Supérieure de Musique de Paris, graduating with the highest distinction.
Over the past decade, Hamidi has appeared in more than 150 concerts and festivals across Europe, North Africa, and Canada, collaborating with artists such as Hooman Khalatbari, Majid Derakhshani, Keivan Saket, Hamid Motebassem, Majid Khalaj, and Ali-Akbar Ghorbani.
On April 4, she completed her long-awaited U.S. stage debut as a guest vocalist with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Carl St.Clair for the orchestra’s annual Nowruz Concert, presented in partnership with Farhang Foundation at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
She is committed to representing Iranian women singers internationally and to exploring new artistic paths between Eastern and Western musical traditions. Her recent performance with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, where she presented both Persian classical music and opera in one program, reflects her distinctive artistic path.
She currently divides her time between Paris and Orange County.
About Shardad Rohani
Conductor and composer Shardad Rohani was born in Tehran and educated at the Music Academy and Conservatory of Music in Vienna, Austria. He served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2020, playing a pivotal role in the orchestra’s renewed international profile during his tenure. He was also commissioned to compose the music for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 13th Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand.
An internationally acclaimed composer and conductor, Rohani has collaborated with many of the world’s leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Austrian Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. He gained worldwide recognition as conductor, arranger, and pianist for Yanni Live at the Acropolis, one of the best-selling concert videos of all time. The landmark performance was broadcast internationally and viewed by more than 500 million people across 65 countries.
Among his most celebrated concert works is the Sinus Persicus Suite, originally recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios. The work has since been performed throughout Europe and the United States to critical acclaim.
For many years, Rohani has also maintained a close artistic relationship with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, serving as guest conductor and collaborator for the orchestra’s annual Nowruz Concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California. These performances have become one of Southern California’s premier celebrations of Iranian music and culture, introducing symphonic works inspired by Iranian heritage to thousands of audience members each year.
Throughout his distinguished career, Rohani has received numerous prestigious scholarships and honors in both Europe and the United States, including the A.K.M. Scholarship in Vienna, the ASCAP Scholarship in Los Angeles, and the Jerry Fielding Award for film composers. His recordings of classical repertoire—including the complete Tchaikovsky ballets—have earned widespread critical acclaim, including praise from Japan’s In Tune magazine.
In 2020, Rohani founded the Roudaki Orchestra in the United States, the first Western classical orchestra outside of Iran dedicated to the performance of Iranian symphonic music and works by Iranian composers. The orchestra made its highly anticipated debut on July 14, 2024, with an inaugural concert at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall in Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone in the global presentation and preservation of Iran’s rich orchestral heritage.
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