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Will Iran drive its musicians off the streets?

The Iranian authorities are considering to permits for street performers, but musicians say it goes against the very spontaneous nature of their work.
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Aso Kohzadi, a violinist with a master’s degree in electronic music from the Netherlands, regularly performs well-known classical tunes and her own compositions in the streets of Tehran.

Kohzadi is often accompanied by her partner Mehrdad Mehdi, who plays the accordion and who was one of the very first street musicians in the Iranian capital. Although Kohzadi has performed in cafes and concert halls, the academically trained classical musician says she loves playing in the streets and “bringing a smile to the faces of passersby,” particularly those who do not usually go to concerts.

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