An Outstanding Quality of Devotion

TT Art Desk - Tehran Times - Tehran, Iran
Monday, December 17, 2007

The Selçuk University paid tribute to Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri by appointing him as honorary head of its Rumi research center in Konya on December 15.

He also received the Golden Sama medal, which was awarded by Rumi’s 22nd niece, Esin Celebi.

“I have received many medals over the past few years, but I consider this award to be the most important of them all,” Nazeri said.

The honoring ceremony was held before the commencement of Nazeri’s concert held in commemoration of the 800th birth anniversary of the Iranian poet and mystic Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi.

Nazeri’s performances are famous for their quality of devotion to Rumi’s poetry.

“The most important message of Rumi was unity and the avoidance of division,” Celebi said during the ceremony. “I’m happy that we have enthusiastically gathered together here to commemorate the high status of Rumi,” she added.

Nazeri was presented with the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur medal, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of art and culture, in Paris on September 29.

It was given to him in recognition of the scholarly interest he has taken in the musical interpretation and vocalization of the transcendent lyrics of Rumi.