Reza Ghassemi

Who is Reza Ghassemi?

Reza Ghassemi is an Iranian novelist and musician.

He was born in Esfahan. He also is talented in classical Iranian music. He is a master of the Persian Lute the Setar. He has composed some songs for the Iranian maestro Shahram Nazeri. He has also been on stage with some other leading Iranian vocalists such as master Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Sepideh Raissadat.

His best-known composition is the last track on the best-selling classical Iranian album, Gol-e Sadbarg released in 1984. This album, which includes compositions from Jalal Zolfonoun, Shahram Nazeri as well as Reza Ghassemi, is believed to have the most influential effect on Iranian young artists who were reluctant to learn the Setar.

Since the release of the album Gol-e Sadbarg, Setar found unbelievably great popularity among Iranians. In truth, Ghassemi and his two famous colleagues, mentioned above, began a new era in Iranian classical music. Though he lives in France, Ghassemi has not given up teaching Iranian music. Farrokhzad Layegh has studied Setar with Mr. Ghassemi, among some other masters.