Iran-e Javan
Golda Zahra
presents
Golda Zahra
IRAN-E JAVAN
(ایرانِ جوان)
Performed Live with the
IRANSHAHR ORCHESTRA
Music Director & Conductor
Shahab Paranj
Composed by
Jean Baptiste Lemaire & Siavash Beizai
Poem by
Bijan Taraghi
Directed by
Arash Rod
May 22, 2026 - 11AM PDT
Farhang Foundation proudly presents the music video premiere of soprano Golda Zahra’s stunning live performance from LIGHT ALWAYS PREVAILS, recorded at UCLA’s majestic Royce Hall in Los Angeles.
Marking her Persian-language debut, Zahra joins the acclaimed Iranshahr Orchestra under the baton of celebrated composer and conductor Maestro Shahab Paranj for a stirring interpretation of Iran-e Javan (“Young Iran”) a beloved composition rooted deeply in Iran’s cultural history.
When I stepped into the spotlight to sing “Iran-e Javan” - my singing debut in the Persian language - I experienced a sensation that I can only describe as immense pride. That feeling was brought to an even higher level when I asked my fellow Iranian Americans in the audience to join me and sing along in order to celebrate together, our mutual heritage. At once, I felt the sea of music unifying our hearts and it filled me with intense joy. Performing this glorious piece of music was an honor and a pleasure and, collaborating with the Farhang Foundation on behalf of Nowruz through the art of song demonstrates the ongoing need to preserve the beauty of our shared heritage. I hope you enjoy the performance.
- Golda Zahra
Widely recognized as Iran’s first national anthem during the Qajar dynasty, the piece originated in 1873 when French composer Alfred Jean Baptiste Lemaire was commissioned by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar to compose a ceremonial anthem for Iran. Known historically as Salam-e Shah (“Royal Salute”), the composition became one of the earliest musical symbols of modern Iranian national identity and was performed during official state ceremonies and royal visits throughout the late 19th century.
Over time, the melody evolved beyond its royal origins and came to embody a broader sense of cultural pride and collective memory for generations of Iranians. In this powerful contemporary interpretation, Golda Zahra’s luminous soprano voice breathes new emotional life into the historic composition, while Maestro Shahab Paranj’s orchestral direction reimagines the work for a modern audience with sweeping cinematic grandeur.
Presented as part of Farhang Foundation’s landmark concert LIGHT ALWAYS PREVAILS, this special premiere is both a celebration of Iranian musical heritage and a tribute to the enduring power of art to inspire hope, unity, and resilience across generations.
Golda Zahra’s new album
Streaming on all platforms today
Apple Music - Spotify
About Golda Zahra
A Los Angeles native hailed as “The rising star of the opera world” and “a promising young opera singer” by the Los Angeles Times, award-winning soprano, Golda Zahra is known for an angelic voice marked by lush, golden tones, crystal clarity, and a vocal range with an exciting high-note extension.
To her parents' amazement, Golda sang even before she uttered her first words. At the age of three, she chirped along to Luciano Pavarotti’s, “Funiculì, Funiculà,” a Neapolitan song that her childlike voice reinterpreted as “Jamma-Ja.” That same year, she attended her first opera. Enchanted by Mozart’s Magic Flute, it was becoming remarkably clear that Golda was a natural—singing, acting, and imitating the music all around her. It seemed as though opera had "chosen her," long before she knew that a true operatic voice lived within.
Begging her parents to allow her to "go it alone" and pursue her craft, while still a teenager, she spent nearly eight years in Italy, not merely studying music and opera, but absorbing the Italian artistic culture into her being. During this period, she also notably coached with soprano Barbara Frittoli.
Hailed by the L.A. Times as “One of the rising stars of her generation,” Golda has already garnered awards and is quickly emerging as a singer preparing for the world stage. Driven to share her vocal gifts, she possesses an innocence and generosity of spirit all too rare. Most critically, she defies the need to be confined by the principles of any specific genre. “I love it all,” she says in her carefree style.
Not trained merely for power, Golda’s voice is beautiful in tone while also buoyed by a unique blend of agility that sometimes hearkens back to the Golden Age of Opera. Marked by her passionate personality and ability to immediately enchant, the Los Angeles native is the product of a Middle Eastern mother and an American father whose own grandfather was the voice teacher to superstar and crossover artist, Linda Ronstadt.
A lyric soprano with a golden voice and exciting high-note extension, Golda is in-demand appearing at famed venues, including Walt Disney Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Royce Hall. She has also appeared with some of Southern California’s leading orchestras including LA Opera (under the baton of James Conlon), the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Burbank Philharmonic, Southeast Symphony, and Dream Orchestra under conductor Daniel Suk. She is in the process of recording a series of classic opera arias and other favorites with internationally renowned conductor Maestro Steven Mercurio and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2025, Golda launched the highly successful concert spectacular Golda Zahra in Concert at Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Following up with a critically acclaimed debut performance as “Liu” in Puccini’s Turandot at Walt Disney Hall, she also appeared at the Pacific Music Festival’s Puccini 100th gala concert.
Soprano Golda Zahra studies in the private voice studio of Bill Schuman in New York.
Discover Golda Zahra
 |
About Shahab Paranj
Winner of the 2024 Hoefer Prize, Shahab Paranj is a composer, conductor, instrumentalist, and educator. Born and raised in Iran, he holds degrees in music composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is recognized as a pioneering figure among his generation of Iranian composers, known for integrating Persian and Western compositional techniques.
Praised by the San Francisco Examiner as "extraordinary" and lauded by composer John Adams for his "unique voice," Paranj's music diverges from Eurocentric conventions, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of Persian music.
His recent commissions include works for ensembles such as the Delirium Musicum, Russian String Orchestra, Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble, Long Beach Opera, Jâca Duo, Aleron Trio, San Francisco New Music Ensemble, One Great City Duo, MSM Symphony Orchestra, and the International Low Brass Trio. His versatility also extends to film scoring, with his original score for Dressage earning recognition when it was nominated for the 2018 Berlin Film Festival's Generation category.
As a conductor, Paranj led The Iranshahr Orchestra in the recording of Songs of Love and Loss by Richard Danielpour, featuring the acclaimed soprano Hila Plitmann, released by Naxos in 2024.
A virtuoso tombak player, Paranj has performed, recorded, and collaborated with distinguished artists and ensembles, including the legendary Mohammad Reza Shajarian, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony under the baton of Carl St. Clair. For over 15 years, he has been a dedicated collaborator with the celebrated Shams Ensemble. In addition to his mastery of Persian percussion, he was a member of the Iran National TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra as a cellist from 2003 to 2007.
As a scholar, Paranj's primary research explores the Iranian Avazi style. He has presented his work at prominent conferences, including the joint annual meeting of SEM, AMS, and SMT in 2022. His contributions have been formally recognized by the Association of Professors and Scholars of Iranian (2024), Mehr Humanitarian Society (2010) and the City and County of San Francisco (2011).
Since 2023, Paranj has served as a faculty member and the director of the Center for Iranian Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He is also the founder and music director of The Iranshahr Orchestra and the artistic director of du vert à l’infini, a contemporary music festival in the Franche-Comté region of France.
About Iranshahr Orchestra
The Iranshahr Orchestra, the first Iranian orchestra established outside of Iran, is composed of some of the most gifted and highly accomplished musicians in Los Angeles, united by a shared commitment to championing composers, performers, and educators. With a primary mission to promote and preserve Iranian music, the orchestra annually commissions, performs, and premieres works by Iranian composers, nurturing a rich and ever-evolving musical legacy.
Distinguished by its cultural diversity, The Iranshahr Orchestra transcends the conventional Western classical format, integrating instruments from Iran and neighboring regions while establishing a unique aesthetic and organizational structure rooted beyond European traditions.
Since 2024, the orchestra has been the official resident ensemble of the Center for Iranian Music at UCLA, further solidifying its role as a leading force in the promotion of Iranian musical heritage.
Among its notable initiatives, Avāz-e Jān—an ongoing collaboration with esteemed Iranian musicians—stands as a testament to its commitment to innovation. The orchestra has also commissioned works from distinguished composers such as Richard Danielpour, Reza Vali, and Ian Krouse, further enriching its artistic repertoire.
In June 2024, The Iranshahr Orchestra released its debut album under the prestigious Naxos label. This landmark recording, nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Music at the International Classical Music Awards, features works by Richard Danielpour and showcases Grammy-winning soprano Hila Plitmann, conducted by Shahab Paranj.
Discover Iranshahr Orchestra
|
Help support Farhang Foundation’s free programming!
