‘Musical Armenia’ Presents Talented Artists

NEW YORK— Musical Armenia is a greatly anticipated event in the New York, New Jersey Armenian community. And this year marked its 27^th concert at Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall, on Sunday afternoon, March 21. Under the auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, it was again presented by the Prelacy Ladies Guild.

The event featured two talented performers, pianist Tanya Gabrielian and soprano Natalie Aroyan, with piano accompanist Lucy Arner, who presented a program of demanding compositions.

Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has designated 2010 “the year of the Armenian woman,” ad this was accentuated in the presentation of two female artists.

Tanya Gabrielian played with confidence and included both classical as well as Armenian composers in her performance. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Aria variata alla maniera italiana in A-minor”” is a work of several variations based on the theme’s harmonic structure, which demands flawless technique.

This was followed by Aram Khachaturian’s rhapsodic “Poeme,” replete with interesting rhythms and harmony. It expresses the composer’s intense feelings concerning the tragic history of the Armenian people, but concludes in a major tonality reflecting hopes for a brighter future.

Tigran Mansurian’s “Piano Sonata No. 1” was a surprising and avant-garde presentation. It took courage to perform this almost atonal work to a traditional audience.

Concluding her program, Gabrielian played Frederic Chopin’s well known lyrical “Ballade No. 1 in G-minor,” a melodic masterpiece that incorporates musical ideas from both the sonata and variation modes. It is a composition on many a pianist’s repertoire.

Gomidas Vartabed’s beloved songs were a major part of Natalie Aroyan’s performance. “Karoon Eh” (It is spring), “Chinar Es”” (You are like a poplar tree), “Shogher Jan” (Dear Shogher), and the soul-searing and heartfelt “Groong” (The crane) brought the audience to enthusiastic applause.

Aroyan, demonstrating her versatility, also presented arias from several operas and song cycles, including Francesco Cileas Adriana Lecouvreur, Giacomo Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Bedrich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” Jules Massenet’s “Herodiade,” and a song of longing by Sergei Rachmaninov. As an encore, she sang the heartfelt “Ay Vart.” Accompanying Aroyan was Lucy Arner, who never overpowered the singer and played with singular virtuosity.

At the conclusion of the performance, the promising artists were presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Musical Armenia committee and were given a standing ovation by the grateful audience.

Later, at the Armenian Prelacy, where a sumptuous reception had been prepared by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan congratulated the artists and expressed warm wishes for their future success. “We hope to see you on the international concert stages and at the Metropolitan Opera,” he stated.

Tanya Gabrielian, who was born in the United States, has performed in concert halls in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has already garnered some coveted awards in her career, including first prizes at the 2004 Scottish International Piano Competition and the 2003 Aram Khachaturian International Piano Competition in Yerevan. She also won the 2008 Pro Musica International Award in New York City.

Natalie Aroyan, born in Australia, has sung in concert halls internationally. She was the first place recipient of the 2008 Herald Sun Aria Competition, where she won a scholarship. She also won first place at the 49^th Meistersinger Competition, as well as at the Opera Foundation Lady Fairfax New York Competition, and was awarded a prize at the 2008 International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv. Currently, she is studying on a full scholarship at Mannes College the New School for Music in New York City.

Lucy Arner, who is an internationally acclaimed conductor, has performed at some of the world’s most renowned opera houses, including New York’s Metropolitan Opera and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain. As a pianist, she has concertized with many notable singers, and has taught master classes in the United States, Europe, and Asia. She is currently on the faculty of Mannes College the New School for Music, and teaches privately.

The members of the Musical Armenia committee who worked tirelessly on the event include Lucy Ishkanian, Julie Kedersha, Sophie Khachatryan, Varsenne Sarkissian, and Levon Tatevossian. Members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild are Seda Andrikian, Sima Artinoff, Marion Boudakian, Linda Chirinian, Amy Gostanian, Lilian Hairabedian, Gemma Melik Vartanian, Lilian Merdinian, Diana Minassian, Seta Nalbandian, Annie Pampanini, Anna Piliguian, Lucille Sahagian, Anna Semerdjian, Silva Setrakian, Ovsanna Tatarian, Rita Tatevossian, Nayda Voskerijian, and Silva Zadourian.