Qamar-ol-Moluk Vaziri’s singing without hijab on the stage in Lalehzar is one of the most significant events in the history of this renowned street. Lalehzar, famously known as Iran’s Champs-Élysées, is the first street in the country to have electric lights, a symbol of modernity, and the starting point for many Iranian singers. In the photo taken from Qamar at an atelier on Lalehzar street just before her iconic performance, her gaze is unwavering, defiant, and devoid of fear, despite the death threats meant to discourage her. Reprinting this image on contemporary newspapers, and the velvet that reminds us of the chairs in old concert halls multiplies the courage in Qamar’s gaze and is a reference to a similar quality in music. Like Qamar’s gaze, music surpasses temporal limits and can induce different emotions in the audience each time they encounter it.

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