Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, May 5, 2014
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| Leyli and Majnun Puppet Opera |
The Turkish-language puppet opera Leyli and Majnun, directed by Iranian Kurdish director and renowned puppet theater master Behrouz Gharibpour, has gained attention in Iranian media following its performance at Tehran’s Ferdowsi Hall.
According to ISNA news agency, the opera will continue to be staged until May 7. While the director acknowledged the audience’s interest in the performance, he expressed concern over the lack of positive reception from the Azerbaijani people, the Turkish-speaking population, as well as Azerbaijani parliamentarians and local officials. "I myself am Kurdish, and I staged an opera in Turkish. I am certain that if this were a Kurdish-language opera, we would have had to install a closed-circuit television system for those waiting in the lobby," Behrouz Gharibpour lamented in an interview with the Salam Namin website.
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| Behrouz Gharibpour, Iranian theatre director |
Hoping to bring the opera to cities like Tabriz, Urmia, and Ardabil, the well-known director noted that, so far, local officials in these cities had not taken any steps toward making it happen.
Emphasizing the richness and strength of Azerbaijani culture, music, and the Turkish language, Gharibpour stated that this musical heritage had not been adequately supported in Iran.
"Unfortunately, this nation’s music has received less attention. I hope that Turkish-speaking citizens and the Azerbaijani people will watch this opera, recognize the power of their mother tongue, and take pride in it," he said, inviting Azerbaijanis to attend the performance at Ferdowsi Hall.
According to ISNA, audience members are also provided with informational material about Leyli and Majnun, including a DVD containing the opera’s text in both Turkish and Persian.