By Gourgen Khazhakian
On 5 February the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) Sergey Smbatyan conducted Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra in Sarajevo National Theatre. The soloist was Ran Jia (piano, China), a laureate of Khachatourian International Competition.
Pieces of Ludwig Van Beethoven and Pyotr Tchaikovsky were performed. Below The Highlights readers can find essential extracts from the stories on the concert and the guest conductor published in Radiosarajevo.ba.
In a story entitled as “Remember Tchaikovsky: Sergey Smbatyan Took the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra for Perfection” the author says that the Fourth Symphony by Tchaikovsky performed by the orchestra and young guest conductor from Armenia Sergey Smbatyan will be remembered as one of the best Tchaikovsky performances.
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The aticle says: “…(The Fourth) Symphony of the famous Russian composer is a complicated work that requires good technical and physical capability, well-organized team and an exclusive musical sensitivity of the orchestra. And Armenian conductor suceeded to get all four components from the musicians. His energy conquered both the orchestra and the audience, so we all were not given respite. The first part of the Symphony, the most complicated one, presented us all the grace of the brass section, and the concert has proven that the Sarajevo Philarmonic is able to compete the best orchestras in the region…”
And…“The audience reacted to Smbatyan’s conducting by an ovation at the end of the concert, and that ovation is an indication of the fact that the audience has excellent criterias”, the author says and heaping praise to the pianist Ren Jia of China, as she, having “elegantly-fragile look”, masterfully played Beethoven “with ruthless force”, and… “Beethoven’s genius comes to the fore during the performances that Ren Jia gave us”.
The same author, Vesna Andree Zaimović, published an article in the eve of the concert entitled as “He Played with the London Symphony and John Malkovich, and Tonight He Performs in Sarajevo”.
The story, in particular, says: “Sergey Smbatyan, a young Armenian conductor, is conquering the world with his art. In his career Smbatyan played with Mariinsky Orchestra, Moscow Philharmoniker, Warsaw Philharmoniker, Korean Chamber Orchestra and also the London Philharmony Orchestra…He has had joint work wit the famous actor John Malkovich in an interesting music project, and played a concert with a prominent artist Maksim Vengerov in Vindsor”. In his interview before the concert Sergey Smbatyan said that his most important project was creation of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia that has been headed and conducted by him. “My initial idea ten years ago was to bring together musicians and to play music, but I could not even to dream then that we’ll turn to an Orchestra that we have today, with the state status, financial support, big repertoire and 4-5 concerts per year given abroad. So, again, it is the top achievement in my career. Heading the orchestra is not mere the music and the concerts…That’s why I am striving to be in Armenia as much as possible…”.
The author asks: “But, nonetheless, he conducted the London Philharmony, the some thinks it could be a pinnacle of his career…”
Smbatyan responds: “Yes, I’ve worked with the three biggest orchestras in London, and I’ve conducted Dresden Philharmoniker, Israel Philharmony Orchestra, leading Korean orchestras as well.. Today you can find really great orchestras all over the world, and that is because we have a lot of good musicians. But how important is to have good musicians, so it is also no less important the selection of repertoire.”
And why Sergey Smbatyan has choosen Tchaikovsky to perform in Sarajevo?
“I studied Tchaikovsky at the Conservatory, so that composer was something like the foundation of my musical knowledge. The Fourth Symphony of Tchaikovsky is a wonderful music. It is based on the Russian traditional songs, and their fascination contained in the all of the author’s compositional strategy. This is a symphony in which everything is beautiful, and very complicated, not only in technical, but also in the musical sense. There are not so many works in music literature that make each member of the orchestra to play with the same degree of enthusiasm. The Fourth Symphony of Tchaikovsky gives the opportunity to enjoy playing and to give the best of myself. I am sure that we will perform well in Sarajevo. ”
And … “Since Smbatyan comes from Armenia which has a significant and well-known musical tradition, we ask the conductor if he has any contact with this type of expression”.
“You’re right, we have a really strong and rich musical tradition. Even our traditional instrument duduk has become popular in many examples of film music. Our music tradition is something that gives us opportunity to build new musical stories. Our orchestra performs a combination of Armenian folk and symphony music time after time”.
According to the author, the young conductor expressed his pleasure he came to Sarajevo and met with Sarajevo Philharmonic:
“I am very glad that I’m here and I’m working with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra as so many young professionals play within it. I think it is good that this orchestra gives the opportunity to young musicians…. They provide a stimulus and new energy. In the Sarajevo Philharmonic I feel a great deal of enthusiasm and desire to do better. I know that this is the biggest orchestra in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that in addition to concerts they play operas and ballets which is a difficult and demanding thing… ”
Finally, Maestro Smbatyan was asked by the journalist about his collaboration with the world famous actor John Malkovich.
“First of all, we’re good friends. You know, Malkovich is a big fan of composer Alfred Schnitke works, and he wanted to show his legacy the world. That is how the project Report on the Blind in which the famous actor is the narrator, with a soloist on the piano Ksenia Kogan, with myself as conductor was performed in Seoul, Korea, and has experienced tremendous success. Next year we will have a lot of concerts across Europe… John Malkovich is really the best actor, and he has an amazing mind, as it was evidenced by his fascination by Schnittke and his contemporary music. Rarely you meet someone who is not a musician but knows so much about this composer. He is really trying to expand your horizons, and I am happy to know him and to work with him. “
