TEHRAN -- Turkey’s International Mevlana Foundation honored Iran’s living legend of traditional music Mohammadreza Shajarian during the first night of his concerts in Konya, Turkey.

The International Mevlana Foundation honored Shajarian with a Golden pin and Shajarian presented his handwritten poems of Rumi as well as his cassettes to the foundation.

Shajarian performed concerts accompanied by the Shahnaz Ensemble over four days at the Konevi Cultural Center following an invitation from the International Mevlana Foundation.

The program is a part of the week-long program at the 736th Commemoration of Rumi which is being held from December 7 to 17 in Konya.

At the beginning of the concert Shajarian expressed his thanks to the foundation as well as Konya Municipality for holding the program.

Rumi’s 22nd niece Esin Celebi who is also the deputy director of the foundation said that Shajarian has a heavenly voice that attracts Rumi aficionados.

She went on to say that Shajarian presented the world with peace, friendship and love with his songs during his career.

At the end of the concert, Shajarian performed his smash hit “Morgh-e Sahar” (The Bird of Dawn) following the audience’s clamoring to hear the piece.

Photo: Iranian vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian (R) holds a prize he received from the director of Turkey’s International Mevlana Foundation, Esin Celebi (C), after the first night of his concerts in Konya on December 12, 2009. The host of the presentation ceremony is also seen clapping in the photo. (Tehran Times/Ahmad Motalaei)

Tehran Times