Khatira Parvana

Khatira Parvana (1929-2008), whose original name was Aqdas Khavari, was a famous female vocalist of classical Persian singing (avaz) and popular ballads (tasnif) and one of the first vocalists to be featured in the Golha-yi Javidan (Immortal Flowers) programmes beginning from 19576 onwards. Having received her preliminary training from Abu’l-Hasan Saba, she also studied with ‘Abdu’llah Davami. She was active in concerts and radio and television programmes both in Iran and abroad from 1948 through 1979, though after the 1979 revolution, due to the ban imposed on the public performance of female vocalists in Iran, she turned to tutoring and performing in small concerts for all-female audiences. 

She first made a name for herself from 1954 by performing in concerts conducted by Abu’l-Hasan Saba, with her fame reaching its zenith by performing in concerts conducted by Husayn Dihlavi, Faramarz Payvar, and ‘Abbas Khushdil (1958-79). She was the first Iranian female vocalist whose vocals were recorded by UNESCO. She also became a vocalist of considerable fame during her trips abroad. Khatira Parvana was also active as a fiction and short-story writer, with her literary works first appearing in 1962. 

Khatira Parvana’s performance in the Golha-yi Javidan was short-lived but enduring. In these programmes, using her clear and resonant voice, she gave a splendid reflection of the lessons her teachers two of the greatest masters (Saba and Davami). Her vocal abilities in performing classical tasnifs by Amir Jahid, ‘Arif, and Payvar were remarkable. As a figure and personality in Iranian society, her character was equally commendable, her dignity, moral character, and artistic professionalism being everywhere in evidence. 

From 1960 onwards, she limited her performances to the orchestras of the Minister of Culture and Arts, where she worked as the special vocalist for those orchestras. In a number of records recorded from 1960 through 1978, she performed as a vocalist and also in a number of CD albums released abroad from 1999 through to 2000.