June 3, 2014, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted a classical music concert dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the greatest Armenian composer Soghomon Soghomonian (Komitas). More than 1500 guests of the event were presented with an extensive program of exclusive compositions. The evening featured not only Komitas’s works but also works of his associates and colleagues, such as Sayat-Nova, Avetisyan, Khachaturian, Abramian, Harutyunyan, Melikyan, Tigranyan, Amirkhanyan, Baghdasaryan, Ekmalyan and Babajanian. The performers were famous musicians, laureates and winners of many domestic and foreign music awards. Mikael Ayrapetyan, Maria Gambaryan, and Yevgeny Bychkov reproduced the works on the piano. Gayane Mzikyan, Alena Epikhina, and Garush Vardanyan were the main soloists. Armenian duduk was presented by Hovhannes Ghazaryan. To honor the concert, Oshakan Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots choir, directed by artistic director and conductor Arno Barkhudaryan was invited from Yerevan. The concert was opened with four Komitas dances for piano: Manushaki (Vagharshapat dance), Yerangi (Yerevan dance), Unabi and Marali (Shusha dances). In the first part, Maria Gambaryan, a classmate of Arno Babadjanian, the last student of Konstantin Igumnov, Professor of the Gnessin Academy of Music, impressed the guests with her unique performance. she performed "Kuzhn Ara" (a fragment from the Liturgy) and "Es Arun Jure Gali". Elena Epikhina showed an amazing voice and brilliant performance of the works "Tsirani Tsar", "Oh, Nazan Im" and "Surb, Surb" (a fragment from the Liturgy). The audience warmly welcomed Gayane Mzikyan, who performed "Tamam Ashkhar" and "Dle Yaman", and was accompanied by Ohanez Ghazaryan on duduk. Arno Babadjanian’s pieces were performed by Mikhail Markin (piano) and Aram Khachaturian’s pieces by Evgeny Bychkov. It should be noted that Komitas played an important role in the creative development of these Armenian composers. "I have always been and will remain captivated by the music of Komitas" - Aram Khachaturian's words.

 

This evening the musicians presented something unique and combined performances of folk and classical instruments. Most of the works performed were premieres. This unusual combination performed by Mikael Ayrapetyan (piano), Vladimir Sergeev (violin), Hovhannes Ghazaryan (duduk) especially pleased the audience. The trio performed "Al Handkerchief", "Koehler Zoller", "Chinar es" and "Krunk". At the end of the concert, there was a big premiere - the last work of Arno Babadjanian "Dreams" for piano and orchestra. According to the legendary Luciano Pavarotti, tenor is the only male timbre that has no analogs in life. The tenor parts were performed by Garush Vardanyan. The audience heard the special emotionality and expressiveness of the performance. Special attention should be paid to the brilliant performance of the special choir of Oshakan Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots Art Vocal Ensemble, led by Arno Barkhudaryan.

 

The audience enthusiastically welcomed the choir with each exit and loudly thanked for the excellent performance and for the subtle performance of Komitas's works, which did not leave anyone indifferent. The audience left the hall full of feelings, emotions, and energy. The management of the Moscow Conservatory also highly appreciated the performance and the whole concert, and sincerely noted that the concert was held at the highest level. As noted by the organizers, the main purpose of the event was to bring to the general public masterpieces of Komitas, who played a crucial role in the formation and development of national composer school, as well as in the development and preservation of the traditions of Armenian folk songs and folklore. The concert was held under the auspices of the Yerevan Municipality in Moscow, within the framework of the Universe of Sound international music festival.

 

The organizers were the Association of Armenian Youth of Moscow and Mikael Ayrapetyan's Secrets of Armenia project. Partners of the event: "Marcos" group of companies, "Music Room" concert and exhibition hall, "Art Hotel", "Noyan Tun" restaurant, the official air carrier - "Air Armenia" airlines.