Woman leads Iranian orchestra for first time since 1979, performs Khachaturian’s ‘Sabre Dance’

On November 12, a historic event took place at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall: for the first time since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra was conducted by a woman. This symbolic figure was 42‑year‑old Paniz Faryousefi.

The concert concluded on a symbolic note with the performance of the famous “Sabre Dance” from Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s ballet “Gayane”. At the end of the evening, Paniz Faryousefi dedicated her performance to the women and mothers of Iran, including her own mother, emphasizing the importance of women’s contribution to culture and society.