TEHRAN (AP) — Bands and orchestras have begun returning to the stage in Tehran, where musicians have struggled to find work since war with the U.S. and Israel broke out in late February.
The tenuous ceasefire in effect since April 8 has given Iranians a chance to attend concerts and other social gatherings. On Thursday, more than 300 people turned out for a concert at the Tehran Contemporary Art Museum dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran.
“We were cut off from music for a long time,” said Hadi Alimohammadi, who attended the museum concert. “But recently things are changing.”
Musicians, rear, play kudu horns during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people attend the event at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Musicians, rear, play kudu horns during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people attend the event at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Musician Atena Kharyaband plays the oud during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Musician Atena Kharyaband plays the oud during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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People watch a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
People watch a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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A band performs as people watch and film with their smartphones during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A band performs as people watch and film with their smartphones during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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A woman and other attendees wait at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art for a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A woman and other attendees wait at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art for a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Musician Saleheh Zohrehvand plays the harp during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Musician Saleheh Zohrehvand plays the harp during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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A musician performs as people film with their smartphones during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A musician performs as people film with their smartphones during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Ali Barati dances during a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people watch at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Ali Barati dances during a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people watch at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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People watch a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
People watch a music performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Musicians play kudu horns during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Musicians play kudu horns during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Musician Sadegh Hosseinpour plays percussion during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people watch and film with their smartphones at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Musician Sadegh Hosseinpour plays percussion during a performance dubbed “Sounds of the South,” featuring music from southern Iran, as people watch and film with their smartphones at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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The concert featured about 50 musicians playing a range of instruments including bagpipes, saxophones, guitars and percussion instruments. The program was organized by Mohsen Sharifian, a prominent Iranian bagpipe player.
“People’s overall mood naturally isn’t good,” Sharifian said. “Given the wartime conditions and the lack of peace, what we as artists can offer is, first and foremost, to bring people together.”
The performers included eight women. And one of the musical pieces featured a woman singing for an audience of both men and woman — something that is typically barred by Iran’s theocracy.
“I think as we move forward, God willing, this space will become more open,” said Saleheh Zorehvand, one of the female singers performing, “and women in different fields of singing and musicianship will be able to give stronger performances and better present their art.”
Even before the war began, concerts had become scarce in Iran after anti-government protests that started in December were met with a harsh crackdown by Iranian security forces.
The return of live music is seen in part as an effort by Iranian cultural authorities to restore public spirit. It also addresses concerns by Iran’s musicians, some of whom have said they planned to sell their instruments if they couldn’t find paying work soon.
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