17 Facts About Monir Vakili

Monir Vakili was the first Persian singer to popularize Persian Folk Songs in Iran and the international music scene.

Monir Vakili's father encouraged her interest in opera and supported her decision to study abroad.

Monir Vakili studied voice and theater at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et De Danse de Paris and continued her training in opera directing at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Mass.

Monir Vakili gave performances in roles including Madama Butterfly, Mimi in La Boheme, Violetta in La Traviata, and Liu in Turandot, at the Rudaki Hall.

Monir Vakili intended to bring the level of artistry in Iran up to international standards.

Monir Vakili produced and hosted a series in the National Iranian Television featuring selections from Rudaki Hall, and created an opera film festival and established the Academy of Voice, a government-funded, co-educational boarding school to educate and train students in the art of opera and choral singing.

In 1951 Monir Vakili placed first at the Berlin Youth Festival and in 1975 she was the recipient of the Forough Farrokhzad Award.

Monir Vakili recorded an album, "Chants et Danses de Perse" in Paris in 1958, of songs from different regions of Iran.

Monir Vakili attended the American School in Hamedan where she performed as soloist and member of the church choir.

Monir Vakili staged the first televised opera scenes from Madama Butterfly and La Traviata on Habib Sabet's Iran Television, May 1961.

Monir Vakili was Executive Director of Rudaki Hall Programs for NIRTV, Tehran, Iran, Executive Producer of the first Opera Film Festival in the world at the Rudaki Hall in Tehran, Iran, 1977, and Executive Director and Producer and Host of the Television Program for NIRTV.

Monir Vakili appeared in 19 operas as the lead or second lead and directed two major operas in Tehran.

Monir Vakili was one of the co-founders of the Tehran Opera Company and the founder of the Academy of Voice, Tehran, Iran, 1977, and member of the Board of Directors of the International Shiraz Arts Festival.

Monir Vakili was recipient of the Best Folk Songs Award, Berlin Youth Festival, 1951.

Monir Vakili toured and performed extensively in Russia, Tajikestan, Bulgaria, Romania, France, Germany, Italy and the United States.

Monir Vakili died in a car accident in Belgium on February 28,1983, as her husband's car collided with a tank.

Monir Vakili was buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, where her husband would be laid down on March 28,2014.