Alexander Rahbari

Born in Tehran - Iran, Alexander (Ali) Rahbari was trained in Vienna as a pupil of Gottfried von Einem, Hans Swarowsky and Karl Österreicher. On his return to Iran, only 24 years old, he was appointed director of the Teheran Conservatory of Music and took a leading position in the cultural development of his country. Early in his conducting career Rahbari was the recipient of several major awards. In 1977 he won the prestigious Gold Medal at the Concours International de Jeunes Chefs D’Orchestre (The International Contest of Young Conductors) in Besançon, France following a Silver Medal at the Geneva Conductor’s Competition. Noticed by the legendary Herbert von Karajan, Rahbari was invited by him to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. After this triumphal debut with the orchestra, further engagements followed in 1980, 1982 and 1984. Karajan also paid him the enormous compliment of asking Rahbari to be his assistant at the Salzburg Easter Festival in 1980.