The 30-year-old American-Armenian pianist Karén Hakobyan’s being on the stage of “Carnegie Hall” since the age of 17 was immediately reported by the press predicting a brilliant future to the musician. Indeed, at the age of 15, the pianist had already presented a serious claim to the American classical music by participating in competitions and winning only first prizes. After a break of nearly 15 years, in 2015, Karén Hakobyan also performed before the Armenian audience with an interpretation of Chopin’s first piano concerto conducted by Eduard Topchyan, with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia (NPOA). He was highly appraised by professionals and music lovers. Recently, in Yerevan, the musician performed as a composer too with his Symphonic Concerto for Piano and Orchestra instrumented by NPOA, and his vocalise works for sound and orchestra. In an interview with “Aravot”, the artist said that after years’ break when he visited Yerevan, he received such charges that the melodies of a symphonic concert were already wondering in his mind, which he completed upon his return to the United States. In an interview with us, many of the experts noted the overly melodic outline of the vocalize with the interpretation of mezzo-soprano Narine Ananikyan. Pertaining to the symphonic concert, they said that maybe the Armenian tonality is hidden in this work, however, they were vivid in the interpretation of the pianist-author and Eduard Topchyan.
To our curiosity why our welcomed compatriot to prestigious orchestras and concert halls was not satisfied with only piano works and passed to composer’s art, our interlocutor remembered that since the age of 5 when he was making his first steps in composing, he was inspired by Edward Mirzoyan, later he was improved in this art under the leadership of truly renowned artists. He remembered that in 2015, the World Peace Sinfonietta founded by him in New York in memory of Edward Mirzoyan first time performed the renowned composer’s Symphony for String Orchestra and timbals. As the musician said, the world knows very well that we have an unlimited number of talents, and he wants to organize a festival of Armenians music in 2018-2020 with the attendance of our musicians of the world.
Referring to his art as a conductor, the musician said that his Second Symphony was performed in 2001, in Berlin, at the Young Euro-Classic International Festival, incidentally with the performance of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. In 2014, in New York, he released CDs of his own works. Pertaining to the activities of “his own” orchestra, he said that among the masterpieces of the world, he constantly presents the works of renowned representatives of the Armenian composers’ school.
We passed the rumors to our interlocutor that allegedly, in Japan, he had “dared” to “imprint” his signature under the notes of Aram Khachaturian’s works. “After the performance of Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto in Tokyo in 2015 under the direction of Japanese conductor Hisayoshi Inoue, the audience had congratulated me, asking for an autograph under the notes of Khachaturian. At that time, I realized how the foreign audience appreciates our legendary. And right at that place, I decided to have a concert with conductor Inoue in Yerevan, which took place recently. The project was supported by the Embassy of Japan to Armenia,” – said the artist. Incidentally, the Japanese Altus company, this year, released a CD with Hakobyan’s
interpretation of Khachaturian Concerto.
We asked the artist that said that rumors are circulating after this concert in Yerevan that he has also assumed the role of a public figure and personally conducts negotiations not only with different organizations but also philanthropists, for example, DHAP Foundation (Director Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanyan), known benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Gulbenkians and others. “Certainly, there is such a thing. On May 6, the concert held at “Aram Khachatryan” Concert Hall is also a result of the cooperation with the eastern branch of the US Armenian Foundation (Director, Lisa Stepanyan), and I am now the music consultant for this branch. There are already planned projects, including performances in Artsakh and the marzes of Armenia. As long as they are still in an “embryonic” stage, I do not want to voice them now. I have the desire to establish stronger cultural ties between the musicians and collectives of Armenia and the United States,” – said Karén Hakobyan.
On May 17, at the “Naregatsi” Art Union, our compatriot will give master classes, and on May 24, at the National Gallery Frescos Hall, Bach’s Concerto D minor will be performed with the National Orchestra of Armenia. The concert is entitled “Music for Health”.
Samvel DANIELYAN “Aravot” daily
