TEHRAN: When Paniz Faryoussefi mounts the podium and reaches for her baton, she represents more than just the hope of a thrilling orchestral performance. The eyes turned toward her in Tehran’s renowned Vahdat Hall include those of many young women musicians inspired by her taking her place as Iran’s first woman philharmonic conductor. Women’s professional and cultural lives are still heavily restricted in the conservative Islamic republic, particularly in terms of public performance before mixed-gender audiences. Women, for example are not allowed to sing solo in front of men.

TEHRAN: When Paniz Faryoussefi mounts the podium and reaches for her baton, she represents more than just the hope of a thrilling orchestral performance. The eyes turned toward…

La quarantenne vuole essere da esempio per le giovani che vogliono realizzare i propri sogni: “Di fronte ai rischi non bisogna avere paura”. Nella sala da conc…