Here, artist @soheila_sokhanvari_ introduces us to Monir Vakili, Iran’s most renowned soprano and director🤩 Born into a musical family who encouraged her passion for opera, she was sent to study voice and theatre in Paris. Hugely successful, Monir’s regular starring performances in opera houses and on national TV made her a household name🌟 A true trailblazer, she scored lead roles in classical European operas such as ‘La Traviata’ and ‘Madame Butterfly’. Alongside her love of opera, Monir recorded an award-winning album of Persian folk songs which attracted international acclaim🎵 She also founded Tehran’s first opera company in 1961, established the Academy of Voice, a state-funded specialist school for young singers and organised the world’s first Opera Film Festival in Tehran in 1977. After the revolution in 1979, Vakili – like other female singers – was prohibited from performing. Forced to escape her country, she died tragically in a car crash in 1983 that left the Iranian people in mourning. @bagrifoundation @aceagrams @kristinhjellegjerdegallery