Women’s conduct is a current and fashionable topic, almost a trend. All orchestras, by and large, performed at least once under the leadership of the “Maestra.” Many successfully manage music festivals, opera houses, and large orchestras. Nevertheless, the women’s conducting team is not included in the big leagues, and today the top ten conductors are occupied by men. Of course, a top of 21st-century female conductors was compiled, the top five positions of which are occupied by Marin Alsop (USA), Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (Lithuania), Simona Lang (Australia), Xian Zhang (China), Susanna Mälkki (Finmland) and others.
The only two female symphony conductors’ active in Armenia in recent years, Varduhi Minasyan and Natalie Galstya, were joined by Anna Knyazyan, who recently led the Vanadzor State Chamber Orchestra. Being present at the concert, we can state that it aroused great interest, why not, perhaps because a female conductor was in charge. They played some famous works of Komitas, Bach, and Mozart, but the woman’s hand was evident in the comments. Soprano, Honored Artist of RA Magda Mkrtchyan, and violinists of that orchestra, Mary Arzumanyan and Mane Mkrtumyan, played the role of soloists.
Anna Knyazyan is a violinist by profession. Her name is well-known among professionals. She started her career as a violinist in the opera studio named after Ghazaros Saryan, being the orchestra concertmaster, and has been an artist of the orchestra of the National Opera Theater for almost 20 years. She also performed in solo concerts, as well as in chamber ensembles with different compositions. The quintet named after Aleksader Spendiaryan, founded by her and her friends, occupies a special place in the violinist’s creative life. The quintet was a welcome guest at various Yerevan and regional events. In the conversation with us, the musician remembered her conservatory professors by name: violinists Artashes Mkrtchyan and Viktor Khachatryan, who, by the way, once founded the “Ikar” chamber orchestra, which has excellent activity. As for why she was drawn to the art of conducting only years after receiving conservatory studies, our interlocutor said. ”
“It’s hard to give a specific answer; maybe it’s some internal drive… But I assure you that “the cup was full” of my desire. I immediately turned to the renowned conductor, docent Ruben Asatryan, the dean of our conservatory’s vocal theory faculty, under whose leadership I have participated in Opera Theater performances many times, of course, as part of the orchestra. During the years of studying with the maestro, I got to know study and understand. Why not? I became proficient in the secrets of conducting compositions, from the conducting alphabet to the compositional art, Armenian and the world.”
During the conversation, Anna Knyazyan was honest that her first performance with the Vanadzor State Chamber Orchestra was thanks to Maestro Asatryan. She was impressed by the friendly attitude of the orchestra musicians and the packed hall’s enthusiastic reactions. We wondered whether she intends to approach maestro Karen Durgaryan to lead a performance in the opera house or whether she has already taken such a step. The conductor answered. “I have taken the first step. I asked maestro Durgaryan to provide the score of Khachatryan’s “Gayane” ballet, which he graciously did. I also prepared with Maestro Asatryan, who always gives me time.
The second step remains: to present me to maestro Durgaryan with “Gayane” (smiles, S. D.).” Regarding the observation that female conductors are not often seen in Armenian cultural life, our interlocutor modestly stated that she is optimistic and confident that the artistic directors of state orchestras will be kind not only to female conductors but also to female artists in general. She added in a barely audible voice. “My hope is my professionalism.”
Samvel DANIELYAN
“Aravot” daily, 04.08.2023
