presents

BAVAR KON - باور کن

Featuring

CAMERON SHAHBAZI

and

SOPHIA MUÑOZ

Part of the

Warsaw Sessions

Thursday, October 2, 2025 - 11AM PST

Composer: Varoujan
Lyrics: Iraj Janatie Ataie
Director: Julia Sadowska

Exclusively for Farhang Performances

"Part of my mission to share the beauty of Iran with the world includes honoring the incredible artists who have paved, and continue to pave, the way for us all. It would be impossible not to include the living legend Googoosh, a multi-hyphenate superstar whose story, though at times tragic, is a testament to her resilience and, I believe, to that of the Iranian people. Together with my dear friend and collaborator Sophia Muñoz, we wanted to present some of her most recognisable songs, which showcase her influence both on stage and in cinema.

The Warsaw Sessions is a program I created with Sophia Muñoz, rooted in cross-cultural collaboration, community, and vulnerability. The Warsaw Sessions, filmed at the Polish National Opera House, addresses social and personal turmoils, the beauty of Iran, and reflect on the transformative power of gratitude. We believe that the world is a better place when we can find harmony, within ourselves and with one another. This is a strong theme woven throughout the sonic tapestry of rearranged songs, infusing the likes of Chopin with iconic melodies sung by Googoosh and Hayedeh, among others. We hope you enjoy!"

— Cameron Shahbazi

About Cameron Shahbazi

Rising countertenor Cameron Shahbazi, praised for his “full, voluminous” voice and “personal and beautiful” timbre (De Trouw), is celebrated for his acclaimed interpretations of baroque and contemporary music. In 2023, he received the Opus Klassik Award for ‘Innovative Concert of the Year’ for Woman.Life.Freedom., a benefit concert he conceived in support of human rights in Iran.

The current season sees Shahbazi debut at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona as Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, and with Vancouver Opera in Flight. He reprises George Benjamin’s Picture a Day Like This at Opéra Comique, Opéra national du Rhin, and the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg. In Paris, he presents a recital of arias and Iranian songs with pianist Sophia Muñoz. This August he will headline the prestigious Salzburg Festival in the premiere of Three Sisters by Claus H. Henneberg and Peter Eötvös. In March of 2025, Farhang Foundation has the pleasure of presenting his Los Angeles debut at the Nowruz Concert at Royce Hall.

Past highlights include his Royal Opera House debut as Hamor in Jephtha, Tolomeo at Glyndebourne Festival and Dutch National Opera, and roles at Bayerische Staatsoper, Festival Aix-en-Provence, and Linbury Theatre. He appeared at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Barcelona’s Palau de la Música.

A sought-after concert performer, Shahbazi has sung Carmina Burana, Stabat Mater, Dream of the Song, Messiah, and Written on Skin with leading orchestras. He has given recitals at Oper Frankfurt, Sainte Chapelle Opera Festival, and more.

An alumnus of the Dutch National Opera Studio, University of Toronto, and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, he has received honors including the Sylva Gelber Award, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Award, and top prizes at major international competitions.

Discover Cameron Shahbazi

About Sophia Muñoz

Sought after as a collaborative performer, pianist Sophia Munoz concertizes regularly with Emily D’Angelo, Cameron Shahbazi, and Hera Hyesang Park. A collaborator on Emily D'Angelo's most recently released album -- Freezing -- she can also be found on Deutsche Grammophon's DG Stage platform with Jonathan Tetelman. Sophia also accompanied the 2021 Deutsche Grammophon’s Yellowlounge celebrating International Women’s Day with Nadine Sierra, Hera Hyesang Park, and Bomsori Kim, and was featured on a Hope@Home broadcast on ARTE (2020). A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Program at the Metropolitan Opera (2016), she is currently a member of the music staff at the Dallas Opera, and a faculty member of the Opera Academy of the National Opera in Warsaw, Poland. Past seasons include Assistant Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for L’Italiana in Algieri (2016) under James Levine, and as a member of the music staff at the Komische Oper Berlin from 2017-2022, she assisted in the musical preparation of operas such as Enescu’s Oedipe (2021), Shostakovich’s Die Nase (2018, 2021), and Henze’s The Bassarids under Vladimir Jurowski (2019). She is also a frequent guest artist at the LacMus Festival in Tremezzina, Lago di Como. In addition, Sophia has performed in concert with artists including Anna Pirozzi, Christiane Karg, Ambrosio Maestri, René Barbera, Rihab Chaieb, Jakub Józef Orliński, Ewa Płonka, Betty Garces, and Szymon Komasa. She was staff pianist at the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie (2017, 2016, 2015, 2013), and staff pianist at Eppaner Liedsommer (2016). Sophia received her MM (2014) and BM (2012) from Mannes College the New School for Music where she studied with Cristina Stanescu and Vlad Iftinca, who continued the training she received from her formative teacher, Jura Margulis. She speaks English, German, French, Italian, and is studying Polish.

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Discover Sophia Muñoz

Photos by: Aleksandra Modrzejewska