Mehdi himself was unable to attend the performance in person, as he was subject to a travel ban by the Iranian state. He participated virtually via FaceTime to see his music performed live for the first time. Mehdi's music was banned by the Islamic Republic because many of his works feature female voices, which is illegal in Iran.

Despite these restrictions, he never stopped fighting for the visibility of his art. This concert marked a pivotal moment for him and his work.

The concert was organised by André Bellmont, head of the Composition for Film, Theatre and Media program at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), and Mehdi Rajabian himself.

The two collaborated for a year, continuously exchanging scores. In recognition of this interprofessional exchange, Mehdi received an award of recognition from ZhDk for his work. This was particularly significant given that Mehdi had been barred from studying by the Islamic Republic.

Mehdi was an exceptional collaborator, and as a photographer, I felt deeply humbled to document this series for him.

From a technical standpoint, this event was extremely challenging to photograph, particularly due to the difficult lighting conditions and the inherent sensitivity of classical concerts, where it is crucial not to disturb the large audience.

A five-part series of the concert was exhibited at PhotoSCHWEIZ ‘26 at Kongresshaus Zürich in February 2026.