WANA (Jun 26) – In days when Iran was entangled in the early tremors of military conflict with Israel, a different sound was heard in the heart of the capital — a sound not of explosions, but of instruments; not of fear, but of hope.

 

Alongside military and political measures, the Iranian government chose another path — a path to preserve the spirit alongside the body, to keep the sense of life alive.

WANA – Azadi Square symphony orchestra on June 25, 2025. Social media/WANA News Agency

Metro and bus tickets were made free, cinemas welcomed audiences with discounts, and the streets hosted small concerts and cultural events. Among them, however, one of the most remarkable took place on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, at Azadi Square: a magnificent performance by the Tehran Symphony Orchestra.

 

Azadi Square, with its steadfast structure and ambitious architecture, was embraced by music that night. A concert conducted by Nasir Heidarian and featuring 57 of the country’s most prominent musicians, who let the sound of unity, peace, and resilience flow from their instruments.

 

The performance began with the epic piece “Tomorrow of the Homeland”, composed by Alfred Jean-Baptiste Lemaire, whose hopeful message for a brighter future was powerfully voiced by Mohammadreza Safi. Next came Gabriel Fauré’s “Pavane”, whose gentle elegance brought a momentary calm amid the tension.

 

With the lively rhythm of Johann Strauss’s “Anna Polka”, smiles lit up faces and hands clapped in joy. And finally, “Ey Iran, Land of Jewels”, composed by Golnoush Khaleghi and sung with pride by Safi, touched every heartstring and transformed Azadi Square into a celebration of love for the homeland.

WANA – Azadi Square symphony orchestra on June 25, 2025. Social media/WANA News Agency

The people had come — men and women, old and young, standing or seated, yet all with eager hearts. That night, music transcended all borders: the boundaries of gender, of generations, of beliefs. What remained was a scene of solidarity.

 

The government didn’t stop at hosting a concert; 24-hour phone-based psychological counseling services were launched to extend a helping hand to those who may have suffered the deepest wounds of war — silently.

 

Figures from the world of culture and art were also present among the crowd: Seyed Abbas Salehi, Minister of Culture; Fatemeh Mohajerani, government spokesperson; Nadereh Rezaei, Deputy for Artistic Affairs; and other officials whose presence symbolically underscored the role of culture in social resilience. At the end of the ceremony, the Minister of Culture presented a formal gift to conductor Nasir Heidarian in appreciation.

 

The Tehran Symphony Orchestra’s concert in wartime was more than just a performance — it was an answer to darkness, a voice of life, a melody of peace. That night, Tehran fell asleep not to the sound of air defense systems, but to the music — a sleep woven with hope.

WANA – Azadi Square symphony orchestra on June 25, 2025. Social media/WANA News Agency