The clerical regime has canceled the concert by Tehran Symphony Orchestra that was scheduled to play for the opening of the world wrestling championship citing presence of women players in the band.
Ali Rahbari, the art director of Tehran Symphony Orchestra told the official ISNA news agency that the cancelation came only 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance in Azadi Stadium and exactly as the band was getting ready to go on the stage to perform the opening ceremony. He said the reason given to us was due to women musicians in the band.
The art director added that other members of the band protested and demanded that either all members would go on stage or nobody would perform. Debate and arguments did not bear any fruit, so the entire team quit and walked off the stage. The art director said this was the first time that a ceremony would start without any musical performance.
