Mohammad-Reza Shajarian

Culture of origin: Iranian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Iran

Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (1940–2020), born in Mashhad, was the master of Persian classical singing. He began on Radio Khorasan in 1959 and received UNESCO's Picasso Award (1999) and Mozart Medal (2006). After he sided with the Green Movement protesters and criticised the government, the Islamic Republic banned his concerts and records, and state broadcaster IRIB stopped airing his work. He is buried at the Tomb of Ferdowsi in Tus.