Kitaro thrilled by enthusiastic Iranian concertgoers

10/18/14

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN -- Renowned Japanese musician Kitaro said he was thrilled by the Iranian audience's enthusiasm over his performance on Wednesday, the first night of his concerts at Tehran's Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry.



Japanese musician Kitaro received a thunderous applause from the audience in Tehran

(photo by Marzieh Mousavi, Islamic Republic News Agency)



Kitaro made the remarks during a press conference held at Vahdat Hall on Thursday. The director of the Music Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Piruz Arjmand, also attended the press conference.

He said that he was overwhelmed by the positive energy he received from the Iranian audience and this helped him transfer the energy back to them.

He expressed hope that he would be able to visit Iran in the near future to give more concerts and to become more familiar with Iranian culture.

Kitaro also gave a brief explanation about his music, saying that nature plays a significant role in his compositions.

He added that he has been living in a mountainous region for the past 35 years and that all the music he has composed emerges from the heart of nature.

Kitaro, who composed music for NHK's "Silk Road" documentary series from 1980 to 1985, added that he got to know Iranian traditional songs and folklore when he began to compose music for the documentary.







Cartoon by Naeem Tadayyon, Shargh daily





Kitaro won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in 1993 for Oliver Stone's "Heaven and Earth", and he won a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2000.

Kitaro will give his last performance tonight at the Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry.