An Interview with ‘Musical Armenia’ Performers Melikian, Ojakhyan

The annual Musical Armenia concert series will take place at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York on Fri., April 19. The concert will feature Siberian-born violinist Nune Melikian and soprano Narine Ojakhyan from Yerevan. The musicians recently spoke with the Armenian Weekly about their careers, inspirations, and what’s to come.

Nune Melikian
Nune Melikian

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Lilly Torosyan: How did you become a part of the upcoming Musical Armenia concert?

Nune Melikian: It’s a funny story. I attended a concert last year after accidentally seeing the post on Carnegie Hall web site. Two Armenian artists were playing, so I could not miss it. During the break I got acquainted with two Armenians who came from Philly, especially for this event. In our conversation I mentioned that I am a violinist who had just came to New York three months earlier, and they joked, “So should we expect your recital here next year?” I promised them I would.

Some time later, I remembered this conversation and decided to send my DVD to the committee. I had been anticipating receiving the results of the preliminary audition for more than three months. I was chosen. So, involuntarily, I kept my promise, which was given so light-heartily! And one of the acquaintances from last year’s concert is actually coming from L.A. to attend the concert.

Narine Ojakhyan: I usually have several auditions that I apply to for a season. This season, Musical Armenia was one of them, and I am very pleased and excited to be part of it.

 

LT: When did you realize that you wanted to pursue your musical dreams professionally?

NM: I have been playing the violin since I was six and the piano since I was four. My older sister was a pianist and my mom was always bringing me with her to school. Every time my sister took her music out of her bags, I would play the piano without even knowing the notes. The professor once said to my mother, “I am not sure about Kariné, but your younger daughter is definitely going to be a musician.”

So we started piano lessons, but when I heard the violin sound, I said to my parents that I wanted to only play that instrument. And once I started violin, I never even thought that I could be anybody else but a musician. I still remember saying to my classmates that one day I will be a very successful violinist. I was six years old.

My sister finished music college with excellent marks, and later became a great dentist. So the professor in Siberia was right!

NO: I was born into a very musical family. My inspiration comes from my mother, who had a very beautiful voice, and my aunt, Rebecca Ojakhyan, who is a well-known opera singer and has sang for 25 years in the Armenian National Academic Opera Theater. As a little girl, I listened to classics such as “Anoush,” “La Boheme,” and “Chio-Chio San” from “Madama Butterfly.” I dreamt of one day being on that same stage myself. Luckily, it was not just a dream. I started to sing from very young age and it was clear that I would grow up to become a future opera singer.

Narine Ojakhyan
Narine Ojakhyan

 

LT: Which artists have influenced and inspired you?

NM: It’s impossible to say. For me, music has no limits, edges, or borders. Every composer is unique, and every piece is beautiful in its own way. I just adore music in general. I am in awe of Palestrina, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, L.W. Beethoven, F. Schubert, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, S. Rachmaninoff, S. Prokofiev, P. Tchaikovsky, and many, many others. Speaking about Armenian composers, it’s A. Khachaturian, A. Babajanian, and of course, Sayat Nova and Komitas.

My first violin teacher gave me a book about Russian violinist Leonid Kogan. I read it over and over again as a little girl, and listened to all of his recordings on vinyl. Another violinist, David Oistrakh, is hard not to admire. When I became older, I discovered the genius of Y. Menuhin, I. Stern, and H. Szeryng.

My former teacher in Montreal is Vladimir Landsman. He’s know to a limited circle of musicians, but is a legendary violinist. I think, for example, his interpretation of Franck’s Violin Sonata is one of the best ever recorded.
I have to mention Maxim Vengerov, who I first met when I was nine years old at a concert where we were both playing. After seeing him and listening to his playing, I was totally blown away by this personality. When I got the chance to work with him a few years ago, I was happy—it was challenging.

I am really lucky to be a student of Albert Markov. He’s a great violinist, teacher, musician, and person. He gives me strength by his own example. He teaches me to be free from violin clichés, established opinions, and prejudgments, while knowing the borders. He encourages me to think big. I also admire the Markovs’ playing—both father and son. There must be something in their genes because both of them are excellent violinists!

NO: The first artists that made me fall in love with singing were the incredibly beautiful voices of my mother and aunt. Of course, advancing to a professional career, many singers became inspirational. My favorites are Mirella Freni and the late Beverly Sills, from whom I have also learned a lot.

 

LT: How does your daily schedule look when you’re preparing to perform?

NM: It all depends on what kind of performance it is. Since I live far away from my family, it’s not always possible to be prepared beforehand for everything, so usually the week or so before a performance is full of rehearsals, late-night practicing, organizing, and anticipation and excitement. I stay concentrated, by trying not to waste my time on any kind of entertainment. I also do a lot of jogging. It helps relieve the stress.

NO: It depends on what I am preparing; if it is a role in the opera, my daily regimen takes much longer and it requires much more work than, say, preparing for a concert. I usually allot myself a few hours to do all of my daily detailed preparation.

 

LT: What has been your most memorable experience professionally?

NM: It’s hard to say—there are so many of them. One time, I was preparing for the Sibelius Violin concerto with only a week to go before the university Concerto Competition. There was a strike in the university, and I could not hire a piano accompanist, nor did I know anyone who could help me out. So besides learning two and three movements from zero in six days, I had to remember all the tutti part without actually hearing it. I was sure I would not pass the preliminary round, but I did. The next morning, I was holding the music before going on stage, in an attempt to memorize the last bars. I remember a huge empty hall at 9:30 a.m., with the jury somewhere on the balcony. I was alone on the stage with 30 minutes of music to play.

It was the first time in the competition’s 60-year history that somebody ever did it without accompaniment. I became one of the prize-winners.

NO: Each performance is unique. Each audience gives you a different warmth and energy to take home. Every experience teaches you something valuable, so for that reason, every experience for me is memorable. I think that is one of the reasons that we performers are in love with what we do.

 

LT: What are your plans after the Musical Armenia concert?

NM: As of now, I am planning to have one more recital in the W.M.P. Concert Hall in New York before heading to Canada and Europe for the summer to participate in festivals, performances, master-classes, and prepare for different competitions and concerts. In the fall, I am going to have a series of recitals in Canada with amazing Canadian musicians. Some of them are going to be Armenian concerts. I also have engagements in Boston, Moscow, and Yerevan.

However, instead of telling you my upcoming plans, maybe I should just promise recitals in the Stern Auditorium, Albert Hall, and the Concertgebouw, with the best orchestras and musicians of out time? Because, you see, it all can come true one day.

NO: At the moment, I am also preparing for the role of Mimi in “La Boheme” at the Bronx Opera, which will be running in May. Besides that, there are my usual auditions and upcoming concerts.

 

The Musical Armenia concert is presented by the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Prelacy Ladies’ Guild. Tickets may be purchased through the Carnegie Hall Box Office.

Lilly Torosyan

Lilly Torosyan

Lilly Torosyan is a freelance writer based in Connecticut. Her writing focuses on the confluence of identity, diaspora and language – especially within the global Armenian communities. She has a master’s degree in Human Rights from University College London and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston University, where she served on the ASA Executive Board. She is currently working on her inaugural poetry collection.

2 Comments

  1. I took lessons from NUNE and she insulted me and got frustrated w me. She made me quit playing. I was so hurt by her insults. I am sorry but that is not acceptable.

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