YEREVAN STATE CONSERVATOIRE

[Guest]

YEREVAN STATE CONSERVATOIRE

 

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Yerevan Komitas State Conservatoire is the oldest high musical educational institution of Armenia. It was founded in 1921. Since then thousands of musicians, among them world famous, were brought up in it.

 

The duration of studying is 5 years. There are 2-year post-graduate courses as well. To be admitted to Conservatoire the applicants should have general and musical secondary education. The conservatoire has 1-year preparatory courses during which foreign applicants may study Armenian, Russian and deepen their professional skills.

 

The studying language is Armenian, though all professors speak Russian and the majority of them know English, French, German or/and Italian.

 

The following professions are being taught at the Conservatoire.

 

Piano, Organ

String, Wind, Percussion Instruments

Folk Instruments and Singing

Opera or Concert Singing

Chorus, Opera and Symphony Orchestra Conducting

Composing

Musicology - music history, theory and folklore study

Chamber Ensemble

The Conservatoire has an opera-studio, with its hall, orchestra and chorus. The Conservatoire has a department of students' pedagogical practice.

 

The students are provided by hostels

 

The tuition fee for foreign students is $1500 per year, for attending the preparatory course - $1000 (including hostel).

 

The classes will take place from September to June.

 

 

1a Sayat Nova Street, Yerevan 375001, Republic of Armenia

Tel: 374-2-581164; Fax: 37439-07223

 

http://www.aua.am/armenia/h_educ/conserv/

[Guest]

Lucy Ishkanian's Jubilee Concert Benefits Musicians from Armenia

Excerpted from: The Armenian Reporter International, July 12, 1997, page 11.

 

Lucy Ishkanian's Silver Jubilee Concert took place on Sunday, April 27, 1997 in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

 

The Gala Jubille Concert, marking the 25th anniversary of Ishkanian's New York debut, was a benefit for the Armenian Scholarship Fund at the Julliard School, which enables gifted students from the Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan to continue their musical education at the famed New York school.

 

The program included Mozart's Sonata in C major, K 330, Chopin's Nocturne in F Major, Op. 15, no. 1, and his Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op 31, as well as the Poeme and Toccata by Aram Khatchaturian.

 

The Jubilee Concert Orchestra, made up of students form the Komitas Conservatory, took the stage in the second half of the concert, conducted by David E. Haroutunian of the Komitas Conservatory Symphony Orchestra in Yerevan. They accompanied Ms. Ishkanian in Mozart's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, K 467.

 

Ms. Ishkanian had the most cause to rejoice, for she had contributed to the perpetuation of the dream she had nurtured ever since she became an alumna of the Julliard School over 25 years ago--the foundation of the Julliard-Komitas friendship program, which became a reality in 1992. In the ensuing period, Ms. Ishkanian has become an artist of international scope and recognition. She has performed extensively in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the former Soviety Union.

 

At present, Ms. Ishkanian is honorary professor at the Komitas Conservatory, where she also serves as president of the jury for the graduation examinations.

 

The Gala Jubilee Concert of April 27 would not have been possible without financial support from the metropolitan area Armenian community.

http://www.aiwa-net.org/Newslist/Ishkanian.html

[Guest]

Gaguik Mouradian

 

 

 

katmanchist

 

(Erevan, 1954) studied in Komitas Conservatory (traditional music class) before he took part in every choir singing and dancing group of the Soviet Union during the seventies. In the same time, he developed his own practice in order to find again the backgrounds of a more appropriate to the Armenian traditional repertory and pure playing.

He is considered as the best katmanchist of Armenian School, close to Iranian and Azerbaïdjani masters, with an outstanding originality, and he is the one musician in playing kamantcha as a soloist instrument (without percussion or dam bourdon) because he wants to respect the essentially monodic nature of Armenian music.

Besides modal improvisations on the basis of the main Armenian and Iranian moughams, Gaguik Mouradian restores the Goussan and Achough tradition (trouveres and troubadours, by analogy) which has been spreading through the Caucasus since the16th century : Sayat Nova [1717-1795] whose oral tradition songs nowadays are set, Djivani [1846-1909], Cheram [1857-1938], Achod [1907-1988]. Other pieces belonging to the popular heritage were, for the most part, taken down and transcribed by Father Komitas [1869-1935]. The improvisation on only one note is a tribute to the composer Avet Terterian [1929-1994] who used for the first time this instrument as a part of orchestral unity in several symphonies.

 

http://www.labuissonne.com/emouvance/ang/a...b-mouradian.htm

[Guest]

Alexander Arutiunian

 

Musical life in Armenia has a long and distinguished history, but it is only in comparatively recent times that it has become known in the west. Among the 20th c. composers who have wedded native Armenian musical impulses to the Western Classical tradition, Aram Khatchaturian is surely the best known, but also high on the list is Alexander Arutiunian.

 

Alexander Arutiunian was born in 1920 in Erevan, Armenia (USSR). He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed composers in the Soviet Union. He studied composition and piano at the Komitas Conservatory in Erevan before going on for further studies in Moscow with H. Litinsky (1946-1948). He returned to Erevan when in 1954 he was appointed professor of composition at the Conservatory and artistic director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1970 he was made a People’s Artist of the USSR.

 

Alexander Arutiunian enjoys international renown and his works are frequently played and recorded throughout the world. He has written operas, cantatas, symphonic works and chamber music. His catalogue includes many works inspired by Armenian subjects (Cantata on My Native Land, Tale of the Armenian People, From my Fatherland, and Armenian Rhapsodies), but he is best known for an impressive number of concertos, including works for piano, horn, oboe, flute, and above all his famous trumpet concerto. The latter, written in 1950, is his best-known composition abroad, and is a mainstay of every trumpet player’s repertory. Other trumpet works by Arutiunian include a Scherzo composed in 1955 and a Theme and Variations.

 

"Alexander Arutiunian... whose music alternates between beautiful reflections of impressionism and rough folk dances… and whose volcanic and sentimental works are irresistible..." ~ Jacques Longchampt, Paris, 1977

 

In May 4th, 1990, for his 70th birthday, the Armenian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Rouben Aharonian, gave an extraordinary concert at the Gaveau Hall in Paris, with a program devoted entirely to the composer. This was also the occasion of the French premiere of his Violin Concerto (soloist: Rouben Aharonian)."

 

http://abel.hive.no/oj/musikk/trompet/hayd...dn/history.html

[Guest]

Ashot Zograbyan was born on the 29th of January, 1945, in Yerevan, the capital of the former Armenian SSR. He studied music with Grikov Gheryazarian and Edward Bagdasarian at the Komitas Conservatory, where he now teaches composition and orchestration. He also teaches at the Babajanian Music School, for teenagers aged 14 to 18. Mr. Zograbyan won the 1993 Khachaturian Competition with his Parable for 13 instruments, composed in 1991. His works are well known in Armenia and Russia and have also been performed in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Belgium and the United States. For many years, Zograbyan has been an outsider as a composer in Armenia, due to the advanced chromaticism of his music, distilled from his study of the leading European avant-garde masters such as Boulez and Stockhausen.

 

http://www.otherminds.org/html/Zograbyan.html

[Guest]

Levon Hovsepian

Pianist Levon Hovsepian was born in Soviet Armenia and, after graduation from the Tchaikovsky Special Music School there, continued his studies at the Komitas Conservatory from which he received a Master of Music degree. He appeared as a piano soloist with the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra and performed on Armenian National Television. He also performed as a special guest artist in Estonia and Moldavia.

 

Mr. Hovsepian came to the United States of America in 1991 and received both a Master of Music degree and an Artist Diploma from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Since his New York debut in 1993, he has given recitals in Boston and throughout New England, and he has appeared on the Watertown and Belmont cable networks. In 1993 he received an Honorable Mention at the Arlington Concerto Competition, and he appeared as guest soloist with the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra in January 1996. He was also the guest performer at a reception to honor Levon Der-Petrossian (the president of Armenia) and Senator Edward Kennedy.

 

Mr. Hovsepian is currently on the music faculty of the Dana School of Music in Wellesley and is also the organist for the First Armenian Church in Belmont, MA.

http://www.mit.edu/people/jcb/NEP/bios/hovsepian.html

[Guest]

Members of the Musical Armenian Assembly:

Levon Chaushian

Ervand Erkanian

Margarita Rukhian

Martin Vartazarian

Vahram Babayan Ruben Sargsian

Victor Khachatrian

Anahit Nersissian

Armen Karapetian

 

 

LEVON CHAUSHIAN was born on May 10, 1946 in Yerevan. He graduated from Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas, specializing in composition (1969) and in piano (1970). In 1972 he finished the post-graduate courses in composition under the guidance of professor Ed. Mirzoyan. In 1974 he became the State Youth Prize Laureate. In 1983, the Quartet N2 of Levon Chaushian was recognized as one of 12 best com-positions of the year at the 30th International Tribunal of Composers, orga-nized by UNESCO in Paris. In 1985, the symphony "To Unknown Soldier" was awarded the First Prize at the Competition of Symphony Works of Armenian Composers. From 1986 up to 1991 Levon Chaushian was the Deputy Chairman of the Armenian Union of Composers. From early 1990 he has been working with symphonic center of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Chaushian's music is being performed at International Festivals and at the concerts in USA, Belgium, Japan, France and other countries. Levon Chaushian has been the Chairman of the Art Board of Yerevan Symphony Orchestra since 1994.

 

Main Compositions are the following:

Symphony "To Unknown Soldier" 1984 23' / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1991 Concerto for orchestra 1967 18'

Symphonic Poem 1969 16'

Concerto for violin and orchestra 1974 21'

Concerto No 1 for piano and orchestra 1964 17'

Concerto No 2 for piano and orchestra 1974 22'

Quartet No. 1 1968 17' / "Hayastan" publ. 1972

Quartet No. 2 1980 17' / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1986

Quartet No. 3 1985 19'

Quartet No. 4 1984 21'

Sonata No. 1 for piano 1980 14' / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1984

Sonata No. 2 for piano 1990 15'

Sonata No. 1 for cello solo 1973 12' / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1976

Sonata No. 2 for cello solo 1984 16'

7 Preludes for piano 1973 / "Hayastan" publ. 1975 / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1979

6 Sonatinas for piano 1983-1985 27'

Sonata for violin and piano 1982 16' / "Sovetski Kompozitor" publ. 1988

Poem for piano "Epicenter" 1989 7'

Sonata for clarinet and piano 1995 14'

Vocal Cycle "Armenian Songs" for baritone and piano on the words of A. Issahakian 1982 16' / "Hayastan" publ. 1984

Sonata for Clarinetto and piano 1996

Sonata for Violin Solo 1997 17'

Serenade to "Serehad" for chamber orchestra 1998 12'

"Urbi et orbi" for piano 1997 6'

 

ERVAND ERKANIAN was born on November 5, 1951 in Giumri. He graduated from Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas, specializing composition under professor G. Egiazarian and the violin under A.Vartanian. In 1987 he became the Artistic Director and Conductor of "Tagaran" -ensemble of ancient Armenian music. From 1994 Ervand Erkanian is working under contract in Lebanon and is the Leader of "Gusan" chorus; Chamber Orchestra "Hayastan"; Ensemble of violinists; and Ensemble of ancient music "Madrigal", Cultural center society "Hamazkain" are also directed by Ervand Erkanian. His music has been published and performed in USA, France, England, Russia, Argentina, Lebanon and other countries of world.

 

Main Compositions are the following: Opera "Shushanik"in two acts 1981

Ballet "Orest" intwo acts 1974

Ballet "King Edip" in two acts 1976

Folk opera-ballet "Mokats-Mirza" 1978 / "Golden Age Recording" (Washington) 1983, / "Melodia' (Moscow), 1984

Choreographic cantat "The Birth of Vahagn" 1987

Suite No. 1 from ballet "Orest" 1975

Suite No. 2 from ballet "Orest" 1978

Suite from ballet "King Edip" 1980

Symphony No. 1 Introspection 1977

Symphony No. 2 "Hike and Bel" 1978

Symphony No. 3 "The Voice of Killed" 1984

Symphony No. 4 'Nemesis 1986

Concerto for clarinet and orchestra 1978

Concerto No.1 for violin and strings 1983

Concerto No.2 for violin and chamber orchestra 1986

Sonata No. 1 and No. 2 for piano 1975-1980

Sonata for violin and piano 1971

Sonata for flute and piano 1978

String quartets No. 1 and No.2 1982-1986

Chorus Cycles "The Country of Signs" on the words of G. Edoyan and A. Harutsunian, on the words of V. Terian and V. Davtian 1976-1984

"Carrols" 1985

Chamber Cantatas "From Song of Songs",

"The Book of Being", "Hellenic Songs", "Canticle" 1973-1980

Intentia for 15 instruments 1983

"Entelehia" for 15 instruments 1985

The Reflections of Sunset for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano 1985

"Pantomusic" for piano 1974

Cantata "Easter Canon" for solos, mixed chorus and orchestra 1994

Oratorio "Holy Week! for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra 1995

More than 350 arranged Armenian medieval spiritual and national songs for solos and chamber orchestra, for mixed chorus and symphony orchestra 1987-1995

 

MARGARITA RUKHKIAN was born on November 7, 1937. She graduated from theoretical department of Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas. From 1962 up to 1965 she was the musical editor of Armenian Television Company. From 1965 up to 1969 she was post-graduate student of Moscow Study of Art Institute, under the leadership of the professor in the history of art - Vasina-Grossman, In 1971, she maintained a thesis "Issues on Formation and Development of Armenian Symphony" and got the candidate degree in study of art. From 1970 Margarita Rukhkian has been a scientist of Art Institute under the Armenian Academy of Sciences. In 1982 she became a Laureate of All-Union Prize, named after Asaphiev for "Armenian Symphony" monograph. Margarita Rukhkian has been the author of many research works and three doc-umentaries: "The Diminishing Music" [ArmenFilm, 1970), "Gorani" (Studio Yerevan, 1977), "Armen Tigranian" (Studio Yerevan, 1981). She is being pub-lished as the music critic and publicist.

 

Main Works are the following:

"Armenian Symphony" monograph, 1980, Yerevan, publ. Academy of Sciences of Armenian SSR.

Monograph "Avet Terterian" - manuscript

"Classic traditions and modern tendencies in Armenian Symphony" coll. "Traditions and The Present", 1986, Yerevan, publ. Academy of Sciences of Armenian SSR

"Time Factor in Armenian symphony" coll. "Armenian Soviet Art at contemporary stage", 1987, Yerevan, publ. Academy of Sciences of Armenian SSR

"Symphony Music and Instrumental Concert" (1970-1980), publ. "Music" Moscow. 1985

"Idea on form or myth of Armenian symphony" 1993, October, news. "Epoch" 1993

"Armenian Symphony Music" (1968-1977) The History of USSR people music, volume VI, part II, 1996, Moscow, publ. "Compozitor"

"Symphony Music and Instrumental Concert" (1977-1987), Moscow, The State Institute of Art, 1997

"The Last Symphony (About the Eighth Symphony of Avet Terterian)", mag. " Soviet Music" No 1, 1996, Moscow,

"Notes on musical theater of Edgar Havhanessian", 1996, "Traditions and The Present", publ. "Gitutiun" RA Academy of Sciences

 

MARTIN VARTAZARIAN was born on April 4,1938 in Yerevan. He graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas in piano under G. Saradjev and in composition under E. Mirzoyan. From 1956 up to 1960 Martin Vartazarian was working in Variety Quintet of Armenian State Radio. From 1966 up to 1972 he was the Artistic Director of Variety Ensemble of the State Radio and Television Company of Armenia. Since 1972 Martin Vartazarian is the Artistic Director of Armenian House of Composers. Since 1990 he has been the conductor-consultant of Variety-Symphony Orchestra of the State Television and Radio Company of Armenia. Martin Vartazarian is the lecturer of Yerevan Conservatory, he is actively working with drama and musical theaters and composing music for films. Martin Vartazarian is the Honored Art Worker.

 

Main Compositions are the following:

Sonato for piano in 2 parts 1970 8'

Quartet for strings 1968 29'

Concertino for flute and string orchestra 1970 7'

Symphonic Poem "Dedication to Bartock" 1970 11'

Concerto for orchestra dedicated to the author of the first Armenian piano concerto A. Khachaturian 1984 14'

Symphony "Innocent Sacrifices of Fatal Struggle" 1987 24'

Author compositions of variety songs 1981 / "Sovetakan grokh" publ.

Prelude, prelude-improvisation, Sonata for piano

Collection "Concert repertoire of the pianist" 1983 / "Sovetakan grokh" publ.

The fourth W. Shakespeare's sonnet (in English), 2 romances on the words of Av. Issahakian. Col. B Armenian romances 1984 / "Sovetakan grokh" publ.

"The word of love to Armenia" on the words of Av. Issahakian. Col. Armenian choruses" 1986 / "Sovetakan grokh" publ.

 

VAHRAM BABAYAN was born on August 19, 1948 in Yerevan. He graduated from Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas, and studied in piano under professor E. Mirzoyan and in composition under professor G. Egiazarian. In 1992 he has established "Vahram Babayan" Fund. He is the author of many theoretical articles and perform as pianist at concerts. His music is being performed in USA, Japan, Germany, Argentina, Norway and other countries. In 1999, from April up to August, he was on creative tour in Germany.

 

Main Compositions are the following:

Symphony No. 1 1964 30'

Symphony No. 2 1968 22'

Symphony No. 3 1972 40'

Symphony No. 4 1977 35'

Symphony No. 5 1981 30'

Symphony No. 6 1985 39'

Symphony No. 7 1988 65'

Symphony No. 8 1998 37'

Concerto No. 1 for piano and orchestra 1965 20'

Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra 1969 17'

Concerto No. 3 for piano and orchestra 1984 29'

Concerto for organ and orchestra 1967 20'

Concerto for the string quartet and orchestra 1978 29'

Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra 1981 23'

Concerto for the quartet of saxophones and orchestra 1982 20'

Symphonic Poem No. 1 "Morning Bells" 1969 13'

Collages for 2 pianos and percussion instruments (pulsatile) 1971 58'

Pentimento 1975 12'

Chamber Symphony No 2 1981 22'

Serenade No. 1 for soprano, flute, contralto, violin, cello and piano 1985 8'

Serenade No. 2 for soprano, violin, cello and piano 1993 10'

Symphonic Poem No 2 "Night in Garni" 1978 10'

Double Concerto for flute and oboe and orchestra 1983 17'

Opera "Stranger" in 2 acts made on the story by A. Camus (in French) 1970 85'

Chamber Opera "Beethoven's Letters" in three parts. For the baritone of women chorus and chamber orchestra (in German). Opera written on the base of Beethoven's three letters 'To the Immortal Beloved" 1977 60'

Opera "Hamlet" in 3 acts on Shakespeare's tragedy 1990 2 30'

Oratorio ' Christ speaking' for soprano, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra on the words of Sh. Peggy "Jesus Parle" (in French) 1991 25'

Holiday Overture 1993 10'

Ballet "Pygmalion" 1975 30'

"Aria" for trumpet B 0 and string orchestra and timpani 1994 20'

 

RUBEN SARGSIAN was born on November, 1945. He graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas in 1972 in composition. From 1973 up to 1985 he was teaching theory and solfeggio at Yerevan music school No 10. Since 1986 he is a lecturer on harmony and composition at Yerevan Conservatory. Musical works of Ruben Sargsian were performed at all Congresses, Plenary sessions and Festivals, arranged by Armenian Union of Composers within period of 1973 - 1986. His music was performed in Finland, France, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Russia. The concerto No. 1 was recognized as the best musical work of Armenia in 1978. He received the Prize of Komsomol of Armenia.

 

Main Compositions are the following:

Symphony No 1 1980 30'

Symphony No 2 1985 32'

Symphony No 3 1986 31'

Symphony No 4 1989 32'

Cantata "It used to be so" 1975 12'

Concerto No 1 for cello and orchestra 1975 22'

Concerto No 2 for cello and orchestra 1978 24'

Concerto No 3 for cello and orchestra 1982 18'

Concerto No 4 for cello and orchestra 1986 18'

Concerto No 1 for violin and orchestra 1981 30'

Concerto No 2 for violin and orchestra 1983 18'

Concerto No 3 for violin and orchestra 1984 20'

Four sonatas for violin and orchestra 1976-1990

Two sonatas for piano 1975-1990

Five sonatas for piano 1968-1978

Cantata "I Testify" on the texts of modern 1990 20'

German poets, A. Issahakian and V. Terian "Six Stories from the Past" on the "Song of Songs" text from the Bible and on the poems of Armenian poets A. Issahakian and M. Metsarents 1982 15' / "Sovetakan grokh" publ. 1982

Vocal cycles "About Love" on the words of ancient Indian and Chinese poets 1973 10' / "Sovetakan grokh" publ. 1983

 

VICTOR KHACHATRIAN was born on April 7, 1946 in Yerevan. He graduated from Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas and post-graduate courses in class under professor K. Dombayev. For more than 20 years he has been the leading violinist in Symphony orchestra of Armenian Radio and Television Company, meantime he has performed as the soloist of the Armenian Philharmonic Society. Many solo concerts accompanied by orchestra in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Tbilisi, Riga and Vilnius, in cities of Germany were performed on tours. He was recorded by Radio Company in Yerevan and Moscow. He has laser discs produced in Germany and in USA. From 1988 up to 1992 he was the conductor of chamber orchestra "Ikar" and conducted many new compositions of Armenian composers. At present Victor Khachatrian is the professor of Yerevan Conservatory after Komitas in violin class. At concerts he has been performing as soloist, conductor and a member of ensemble group.

 

ANAHIT NERSISSIAN was born on June 16, 1954 in Yerevan. She graduated from Moscow Conservatory after Tchaikovsky and post-graduate courses in class under professor V. Merzhanov. In 1980, Anahit Nersissian became the Bach International Competition Laureate in Leipzig (the first prize, golden medal). She is the professor of Yerevan Conservatory and carrying out the broad concert activity. In 1992 she was included into jury at the Bach International Competition in Germany. In 1994 and 1996 she was invited as judge to the International Competition after Sergei Rachmaninoff.

 

ARMEN KARAPETIAN was born on January 30, 1964 in Yerevan. In 1981-1986 he studied at Yerevan State University at the Chemical Department. Simultaneously, he attended the Conservatory after Komitas, the department of vocal music under professor S. Danielian. From 1988 Aram Karapetian is soloist of Armenian National Opera House. From 1993 he is giving concerts on tours in Russia, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. From 1997 he has been work-ing under contract at Czech Opera House as a leading soloist and perform as a guest-artist at Opera Houses of Praha, Brno, PiIzen and Olomouts.

http://www.terterian.org/deutsch/ama/members.html

[Guest]

Alexander ARUTIUNIAN

[Alexander Arutiunian... whose music alternates between beautiful reflections of impressionism and rough folk dances.. and whose volcanic and sentimental works are irresistible... Jacques Longchampt, Le Monde, Paris, 29 March 1977]

 

[Alexandre Arutiunian ... dont la musique fait alterner de beaux reflets impressionnistes et de sauvages danses populaires...et dont les oeuvres volcaniques et sentimentales sont irrésistibles... Jacques Longchampt, Le Monde, Paris 29.3.1977]

 

[Alexander Arutiunian ... in dessen Musik schöne impressionistische Schimmerungen mit wilden volkstümlichen Tänzen alternieren ... und dessen vulkanische und sentimentale Werke unwiderstehlich sind... Jacques Longchampt, Le Monde, Paris 29.3.1977]

 

 

 

 

Biography

Alexander Arutiunian was born in 1920 in Erevan in Armenia (USSR). He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed composers in the Soviet Union. He studied composition and piano at the Komitas Conservatory in his natal city before going on for further studies in Moscow with H. Litinsky (1946-1948). He directs the composition class at the Komitas Conservatory in Erevan. Alexander Arutiunian enjoys international renown and his works are frequently played and recorded throughout the world, especially his famous Concerto for trumpet. He has written operas, cantatas, symphonic works and chamber music. He draws profound inspiration from Armenian folk music while freely transcending it. [Alexander Arutiunian... whose music alternates between beautiful reflections of impressionism and rough folk dances.. and whose volcanic and sentimental works are irresistible... Jacques Longchampt, Le Monde, Paris, 29 March 1977] In May 4th, 1990, for his 70th birthday, the Armenian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Rouben Aharonian, gave an extraordinary concert at the Gaveau Hall in Paris, with a program devoted entirely to the composer. This was also the occasion of the French premiere of his Violin Concerto (soloist: Rouben Aharonian

http://www.editions-bim.ch/seiten/arutiunian_bim.htm

[Guest]

Suren Bagratuni

 

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Assistant Professor (1995)

Violoncello

B.M., Komitas State Conservatory, Armenia; M.M. and D.M.A., Moscow State Conservatory; Artist Diploma, New England Conservatory; M.M. and D.M.A., Moscow State Conservatory; Artist Diploma, New England Conservatory.

While still in his teens, Bagratuni won First Prizes in the All-Armenian and Transcaucasus Competitions and the All-USSR Cello Competition. He won the Silver Medal of the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition while still a student at the Moscow Conservatory, and in 1988 he won First Prize and a special Chamber Music Prize in the 'Premio Vittorio Gui' International Competition in Florence, Italy. He has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, appearing with such ensembles as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and at the Newport Music Festival, 'Russian Winter' Festival in Moscow, El Paso Pro Musica Festival, and additional festivals in Switzerland, Italy, and Chile. He has performed with all the major orchestras of the former Soviet Union, the Boston Pops Orchestra, L'Orchestre Jeune Philharmonie in Paris, Weimar Staatskapelle, and Philharmonic Orchestras of Rostok, Erfurt, and Halle. He has played solo recitals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Paris, Geneva, Rome, Milan, Florence, Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin; the Weill Recital Hall in New York; and Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has recorded for Melodiya and has been a featured artist on CBC Radio Canada, National Public Radio, and WGBH Radio in Boston. He was previously on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. Bagratuni is a member of the Moscow Conservatory Trio.

 

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The School of Music

at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

http://www.music.uiuc.edu/MusicL/Faculty/h...gratuni_Su.html

[Guest]

Ashot Zohrabyan

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 15 November 1997

 

 

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Born

29 January 1945 in Yerevan.

 

Biography

Armenian composer. Zohrabyan studied at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan (composition class of Grigori Yeghiazaryan), where he later was appointed teacher for instrumentation and music theory himself.

 

Style

Zohrabyan's musical language is thoroughly interwoven with the musical tradition of his native Armenia. His compositions are marked by strict logic and general transparency, whilst the minutest structural details are worked out throughout the development of the piece. The composer concentrated on instrumental music from the outset of his career, showing marked preference for chamber genres. While still a student of Yeghiazaryan's at the conservatory Zohrabyan wrote a number of works for various instrumental combinations. He confined himself to chamber music in order to be able to concentrate on every detail, polish off the musical text and achieve inner harmony.

His ideas found their most graphic realization in the two books of his Boomerang Games for instrumental ensemble, written some time after his graduation from the conservatory. Performed in Yerevan and at the Georges Pompidou Cultural Centre in Paris, this work summed up seven years of tireless searchings on the part of Ashot Zohrabyan. Outstanding musicians, for instance the cellist Medea Abramyan and members of the Yerevan Chamber Orchestra, readily perform his works on the concert stage, where they are invariably acclaimed as original and attractive compositions. His works have also been performed during various festivals, such as the 'Holland Festival' in the Netherlands.

 

Works

Divertimento for two flutes, oboe, two clarinets, two trumpets, two bassoons and piano (1968)

String Quartet No. 1 (1968)

Sonata for clarinet and piano (1969)

Septet for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets and piano (1970)

"Construction" for instrumental ensemble (1970)

Sonata for viola and piano (1970)

Variations for orchestra (1971)

Three pieces for piano (1972)

"Circles", song cycle on words by M. Metsarents and D. Varuzhan for soprano, bass flute, oboe, clarinet and piano (1972)

Madrigal for mid voice and chamber ensemble on lyrics by M. Metsarents (1972)

"The Red Loaves", song cycle on lyrics by M. Metsarents for mid voice and chamber ensemble (1973)

"Boomerang Games I" for flute, oboe, clarinet, stringquartet and piano (1973)

Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 1 (1974)

"Boomerang Games II" for flute, oboe, clarinet, stringquartet and piano (1975)

Piano Sonata (1976)

Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 2 (1977)

Concert-elegy for 12 strings (1980)

"The Gift" for chamber orchestra (1981)

"Evening songs for soprano and piano (1982)

Serenade for 13 instruments (1983)

"New Songs" for mezzo-soprano, two violins, violoncello and piano (1984)

Wind Quintet (1984)

Concerto for violin and string orchestra (1987)

String Quartet No. 2 (1992)

"Parabole" for 13 instruments (1993)

 

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Thanks to Robert Avak

http://ovar.myweb.nl/zohrab.htm

[Guest]

Yeghish Manucharyan

 

Tenor

 

New England Finalist, 2000

 

Yeghish Manucharyan holds masters degrees in voice performance and brass instruments (horn) from Komitas State Conservatory, and a bachelors degree in music from Tchaikovsky Central Music School. He has performed in La Bohème (Rodolfo), The Abduction from the Seraglio, and excerpts from La Traviata and Carmen. Upcoming in 2000 he will perform as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi.

 

He has performed many roles in his native Yeveran, Armenia, as well as appearing in solo recitals throughout Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Brazil, and the USA.

http://www.neaudition.org/semifin-00/manucharyan.html

 

Yeghishe Manucharyan

tenor

 

 

Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor, debuts with BLO as the Fourth Jew in Salome. He is a member of Boston University Opera Institute, where he has performed the roles of Tito in La clemenza di Tito; Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi; and Rodolfo in La bohème. Mr. Manucharyan came to BU after completing Masters’ degrees in Voice and Horn at Komitas State Conservatory, Yerevan, Armenia, where he frequently appeared with the Armenian National Opera Theatre and the National Philharmonic Association. Recently, he has been heard as Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera North and Ocean State Lyric Opera; Tanzmeister in Ariadne auf Naxos also with Opera North; Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio with Opera Aperta; and Rodrigo in Otello with Chorus pro Musica. He also has sung selections from Carmen and La traviata with the Nashua Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Manucharyan was one of this year’s New England Regional finalists in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

http://www.blo.org/Manucharyan.html

 

[This message has been edited by MJ (edited January 24, 2001).]

[Guest]

THE ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC

 

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The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra was formed 65 years ago in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. Today the one-hundred-piece ensemble makes its home in Khachaturian Hall in central Yerevan. As the leading orchestra in the State of Armenia, its activities include regular weekly concerts in Khachaturian Hall as well as frequent tours throughout the state and other cities in Russia.

The orchestra draws its members from the ranks of the graduates of the Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan, and from the leading conservatories in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Over the years many of the world's leading conductors and soloists have appeared in concert with the orchestra, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrach, Aram Khachaturian and Gennady Rozhdestvensky.

In September 1989 composer and conductor Loris Tjeknavorian was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. This was the first time that an overseas artist had ever held a full-time post within the former Soviet Union.

Recently the orchestra has toured the United States, Austria and Germany and been invited to Vienna by Austrian TV.

The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra is unique in that its conductor and players are Armenian, born and raised in Armenia.

 

 

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Discography

 

GLINKA: A life for the Tsar CD DCA 1075

HOVHANNESSIAN: Symphony No.3 / Marmar CD DCA 1033

IPPOLITOV-IVANOV: Caucasian Sketches, Op.10 CD DCA 773

KABALEVSKY: Colas Breugnon / The Comedians / Romeo & Juliet - suites CD DCA 967

KABALEVSKY: Symphonies Nos.1 & 2 / Spring / Pathé´©que Overture CD DCA 1032

KHACHATURIAN: Symphony No.1/No.3 CD DCA 858

KHACHATURIAN: Symphony No.2 CD DCA 859

KHACHATURIAN: Gayaneh/The Valencian Widow CD DCA 884

KHACHATURIAN: Spartacus CD DCA 949

KHACHATURIAN: Film Music CD DCA 966

KHACHATURIAN: Ode in Memory of Lenin / Lermontov Suite

/ Russian Fantasy / Greeting Overture / Festive Poem CD DCA 946

KHACHATURIAN: Piano Concerto / Dance Suite CD DCA 964

KHACHATURIAN: Three Concert Arias / Ode to Joy CD DCA 1087

PROKOFIEV: Lieutenant Kij鯃inderella CD DCA 886

PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet CD DCA 885

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Golden ****erel/

The Tale of Tsar Saltan/Christmas Eve CD DCA 772

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Fairy Tale/Sadko/Scheherazade

Song of India CD DCA 771

TERTERIAN: Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 CD DCA 986

 

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC OF ARMENIA CD DCA 1037

A NIGHT ON THE BARE MOUNTAIN & other Russian favourites CD QS 6180

http://www.asv.co.uk/page045.htm

[Guest]

Elvira Uzunian, soprano

 

Elvira Uzunian was a principal soloist at the Armenian State Opera House. During a distinguished 30-year career, she played 25 leading roles. She was also much in demand as a solo concert artist, with more than 100 performances taped by the Soviet National Radio Network in Moscow. A film career and regularly published articles on music in the press enhanced her status as an outstanding and unique exponent of the art.

 

Elvira Uzunian was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. While still a student at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, she took part in a competition held at the Armenian State Opera House in 1962. She was immediately invited to join the Opera Company. While singing most of the classic repertoire, she gained great popularity in Georgia and Armenia for her performances of national folk operas. (She was made a People's Artist of both Armenia and Georgia.) She was awarded the title of People's Artist in both Armenia and Georgia.

 

She also scored a triumph as Maria in the first production of "West Side Story" to be staged in the Soviet Union. An avid promoter of operatic art, Ms. Uzunian created a unique and successful cycle of concerts titled "From the Pages of Opera". She performed arias, duets, excerpts from operas by many composers from Mozart to Menotti. She pioneered this form of concert performances in the Soviet Union.

 

Ms. Uzunian performed throughout the former Soviet Union. Performances and concert tours have taken her to Germany, Canada, Egypt, Eastern European countries, South East Asia, and the United States.

http://www.sonoraproductions.com/uzunian.html

[Guest]

Anna Mayilyan

Soprano

Born in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1988-1992 studied at the Romanes Melikyan Music College, vocal department. In the period of 1992-1996 studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory, vocal department, and got post-graduate vocal education with professor A. Sarajeva. Had numerous concerts in Armenia, prizewinner of national Komitas-120 (1994) and Austria-German Music (1996) competitions. 1998 She teach at the State Conservatory in Yerevan.

 

Was on tours in Germany, France (1995): had performances with "Serenade" Chamber Orchestra, gave recitals in Paris at St. Luis en L'Ile.

In 1997 specialized in vocal at the European Mozart Academy. Worked with Kerstin Meier, Alexander Satz, Aurelie Nicoles, Salzman, Gorizky, Imre Roman.

Participated in festival of Young Performers in Hungarian Academy of Sciences Young Performers,

Festival in Faculty of Education (Yugoslavia),

Eastern Concert in hall of Chamber Music in Warsaw (Poland),

Festival of Young Performers (Macedonia),

European Days Festival in Bratislava (Slovakia),

Young Performers Festival in Hall of the Music Academia "Gallery", Czech Republic),

Young Performers Festival in Hall "Ca Risonico" (Venice),

La Grand Europe Festival in Strasbourg (France).

 

Listen to:

Khorhurd khorin, a sharakan by Khachatur Taronetsi from the 13th century: either in RealAudio or as MP3

 

or to Anna Mayillian & Heinz-Erich Gödecke in Geghart

 

In January 1998 she took part in the Festival of Spiritual Music in France. In March 1999 recital in Salle Gavor in Paris. In November 1999 recital in London.

Her repertoire includes Armenian, European, American, Russian Music.

Recordings:

 

CD, Celestial Harmonies 13116-2, Germany, 1996

The Music of Armenia, Volume Two:

Sharakan/Medieval Music

 

CD, PRO-ART, Armenia 1998

Armenian Spiritual Music-Sharakan, Tagh, Ganzer

 

http://www.avantart.com/armenia/mayilian/a...a-mayilian.html

[Guest]

Tigram Mansurian

 

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Releases

An introduction to

 

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MANSURIAN,

Tigran Eguiajevitch

Beirut, January 27th 1939

Tigran Mansurian is born in Beirut on January 27th 1939 out of Armenian parents, who return to their homeland eight years later. When the family moves to Jerevan in 1956, the adolescent Tigran is able to study music in earnest. The early years are spent under the teaching of Edward Bagdasarian. In 1960 he enters the Jerevan Conservatory from which he graduates in 1967. His first compositions (two string quartets, sonatas for piano, violin, viola and flute) remain within the confines of chamber music, with the exception of a Partita for orchestra (1965), written as a graduation piece. Not quite thirty years of age, Mansurian receives an appointment at the Conservatory : he is to teach analysis of contemporary music. He demonstrates an eclectic approach to the subject and exhibits a preference for Debussy, Stravinski and Webern. The Armenian patrimony is not totally ignored, although its role remains rather implicit. As a matter of fact, in 1979 Mansurian himself makes the following statement : "I discovered folklore rather late. Consequently, it is not an integral part of my musical consciousness." This distinguishes Mansurian from his older colleagues Aram Khatchaturian (1903-1978) and Avet Terterian (1929-1994). The former, born in Tbilissi (Georgia) out of Armenian parents, is a household name on both the Moscow and international music scene. He owes his success to Caucasian melodies or rhythms, lavishly sprinkled with the typically Russian bombastic ornaments. In other words, his compositions are just as important for Armenian music as Bizet's work was for Spain and it paves the way for a more authentic musical nationalism. This influence can be found in the work of Avet Terterian who is also born outside of Armenia, viz. in Bakou. It is here that he receives his initial musical education before moving to Jerevan in 1951. Like Khatchaturian, he has a preference for symphonic language (he composes a total of eight symphonies) but he does not lapse into superficial folkloristic music. He draws from those profound sources with typical harmonic and instrumental characteristics (sometimes even popular instruments are introduced into the orchestra).

The fact that each of these three great Armenian composers is born abroad clearly illustrates the painful Diaspora of the Armenian people, a fate shared by the founding father of Armenian ethno-musicology, Sogomon Sogomonian, better known under his priest's name Komitas (1869-1935). Komitas is born in Turkey and educated in Georgia and Berlin. Between 1899 and 1919 he collects compositions that bear witness to Armenia's thousand-year-old musical patrimony. Subsequently, he falls prey to dejection because of the genocide he has witnessed and remains unproductive for sixteen years.

 

An inquisitive and erudite mind , a modest man, a spontaneous admirer of other composers' work (which is rather unusual for an artist), Tigran Mansurian meticulously and frugally composes short pieces, using a minimal cast. They often refer to human relations such as friendship and admiration. He pays tribute to Chostakovitch (Concerto for cello, 1976), Schnittke (Tovem, 1979), Stravinski (1981), Russian musicologist and Stravinski-expert Mikhail Druskin (Madrigal II, 1976), Penderecki (Madrigal III, 1982), A. Volkonski (The Shadow of Sash), cello player Karina Georgian (Capriccio), Oleg Kagan and Natalia Gutman (Concerto for violin, cello and strings, 1978). As a matter of fact, a special place is reserved for the concertos in Mansurian's oeuvre (note the complete absence of symphonies in his work) : two concertos for cello (1976, 1978), one for violin (1982), one for organ (1964), Postlude, concerto for clarinet, cello and strings (1993). Like most musicians from the former Soviet Union, Mansurian also writes soundtracks, in particular the soundtrack for Paradjanov's masterpiece, Sayat Nova (The Colour of the Grenade).

 

Appointed as professor in composition at the Erevan Conservatory in 1987, Mansurian becomes its Director in 1991.

http://www.megadisc.be/artists/mansurian.htm