Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics in talks for Iran trip

We reported six weeks ago that Chancellor Merkel was planning to take with Berlin Staatskapelle with Daniel Barenboim on her first trip to Teheran.

Now it appears the Iranians are negotiating dates with both philharmonic orchestras. The Vienna Phil is expected to accompany Austrian president Heinz Fischer on a state visit in the months ahead, while sentimentalists in Teheran have fond memories of visits by the Berlin Phil and Karajan before the 1979 revolution and are keen on their return.

The source of this leak to German media is Bahram Djamali, head of music at the Iranian ministry of culture.

The ministry probably won’t mind if the Vienna Phil appears one last time in its traditional all-male lineup.

UPDATE: Vienna won’t go.