The relationship of the individual and the society, the one and all, the leader and the mass, the manager and staff have given rise to a debate in all the times. Who is more important: the “leader” or the “follower”? In nowadays advanced countries (Japan, China, Switzerland, Sweden, etc.), “corporate” behavior is highlighted when the person works without “being distinguished” or “being seen”, which, in fact, is considered to be a courteous behavior. While, in our country, the mania of “personality” is still on, as it is often said as if all are Tigran the Great. This age-old “quarrel”, in concentration, involves also the relationship of solo and orchestra, to which no final answer has and most probably will be given. It is a fact that many high-class musicians have and continue their activities in the bands, including the popular bands.
The Armenian band art is not an exception. Today, truly professional musicians are working in our state music collectives with love and devotion, among which there are also artists that do not image to be Tigran the Great. “Aravot” invited such a musician for an interview, Deputy concertmaster of the trumpeters’ band of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia since 1998, Armen Khachatryan (in the photo). Why specifically this artist? He was invited to the Philharmonic Orchestra by maestro Loris Tjeknavorian during the years of studying still at the first year of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, in the class of well-known trumpeter and Professor Yuri Balyan. Years later, the trumpeters also completed the postgraduate studies, however, as it was, he stayed as a band player or did not choose the career of a solo musician.
In this respect, our interlocutor assured that he initially has accepted and loved the chamber music and was fascinated by the orchestral sounds. Once, he played in the “Yerevan” brass orchestra (artistic director, Hayk Hovakimyan). He also mentioned that he and other best musicians playing on other brass instruments are numerously invited by foreign renowned conductors to collaborate with their orchestras, for example, Harut Fazlian whose willingness helped the Beirut Symphony Orchestra to repeatedly invite him, accompanying such famous singers of the Arab world, such as Julia Boutros and Fairuz.
Armen Khachatryan, the first on top from the right.
Speaking of his the activities in Armenia’s National Philharmonic Orchestra since early 2000s, Armen Khachatryan noted that only this year, the collective, in the framework of concerts dedicated to the centenary of the genocide, under the conductorship of artistic director and principal conductor Eduard Topchyan, gave concerts in the Nordic countries, and the United States and, in general, with a presentable programs, including also the works of the Armenian composers, the orchestra performed in European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Czech Republic, Russia). “The Philharmonic Orchestra has adopted the policy of renowned orchestras of Western countries, i.e. often well-known conductors are invited, such as Valery Gergiev (Russia), George Pehlivanian (France), Lior Shambadal (Germany), Peter Oundjian (Canada), Warren-Green (Great Britain) and others, as well as worldwide famous soloists, listing of them will take a long period of time. Many popular composers trusted the first performance of their works to the Philharmonic Orchestra, who have also conducted them, including Krzysztof Penderecki,” said the musician. He also said that the world-renowned trumpeters, Sergei Nakariakov, Kirill Soldatov and others, also played as soloists with the orchestra.
We inquired also about the current situation of the wind instrument class at the Yerevan State Conservatory. Our interlocutor assured that very prominent professors have taught at our 90-year old Conservatory, in different years. As for the wind instrument classes, Armen Khachatryan noted the high quality of musicians studied in the class of professors Nikolay Khachatryan’s trumpet, trombonist Omar Papikyan, French horn player Norayr Galstyan, at the same time informed that the musicians not only complement Armenia’s state collectives, but also work in the renowned foreign orchestras.
Armen Khachatryan did not agree with the observation that the Armenian composers often do not compose for the trumpet. “Arno Babajanyan’s, Alexander Harutyunyan’s, Edward Mirzoyan’s, Aram Satyan’s, Robert Amirkhanyan’s and even today’s young artists’ works are often played not only by Armenian, but also foreign trumpeters. Probably you know that the international competitions always include Alexander Harutyunyan’s concert for the trumpet and orchestra as a mandatory program along with Hamelin, Haydn, and other distinguished names,” said Armen Khachatryan. And to the question of whether the musician has never sought the career of a soloist, the trumpeter’s answer was short, “Never. I love my job, that is to say, my work in the orchestra.”
Samvel DANIELYAN,
“Aravot” daily
