Just as Queen Esther's story is one of beauty in Iran, so is the story of Younes Dardashti—a religious Jew who, despite all odds, became an Iranian national celebrity in the 1950s. In the 1960s, his son Farid became a teen idol on TV. Beloved by all, it was a shock when they left the country at the height of their fame.
The mystery of why their family left Iran has always haunted Danielle and Galeet Dardashti, whose theatrical performance, Nightingale of Iran, reveals painful secrets unspoken for generations and resonates with people everywhere.
Listen to the award-winning podcast, The Nightingale of Iran, here.
Co-presented with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as part of The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt.
Part of The Vilna's The Only Woman in the Room series, sponsored by The Miriam Fund of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Danielle Dardashti
Danielle Dardashti is an Emmy award-winning documentary writer/producer, a former on-air TV news reporter, and a storySLAM champion who has been featured on NPR’s Moth Radio Hour. She is the co-author of the Jewish Family Fun Book (Jewish Lights) and co-founder/Creative Director of live storytelling show Storyboom. Danielle leads corporate storytelling workshops all over the world.
Dr. Galeet Dardashti
Dr. Galeet Dardashti is a renowned musician and anthropologist of Middle Eastern Jewish culture. In her new release, Monajat, she sings and composes around samples of her famed Iranian grandfather - The Nightingale of Iran - with an acclaimed ensemble of musicians. She has held Assistant Professor positions at JTS and NYU and is currently a Fellow at University of Pennsylvania’s Katz Center.
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