By IRNA,
Berlin : Shiraz will host next year the new Festival dubbed the ‘East West Divan’ which is aimed at promoting cultural ties between Europe and the Islamic world, the artistic director of the festival, Klaus Gallas told dpa on Tuesday.
“Shiraz will be the host nation at the first edition in June in 2009,” he added.
“The festival name is in reference to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the Persian national poet Shams al-Din Hafiz,” said Gallas who is historian on Iranian culture.
The east German city of Weimar will then host the same event in August 2009.
Two German orchestras headed by an Iranian conductor will inaugurate and close the festivities.
An exhibition featuring contemporary Iranian artists as well as Iranian classical and pop music will be showcased at the fest which is partially sponsored by the German Foreign Ministry.
The 15-day cultural exchange will include concert, lectures and exhibitions.
Weimar was the scene of a visit by former Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami eight years ago and is also home to a stony chair monument in honor of Goethe and Hafiz.