Gayane Ghambaryan, soprano, opera singer, and soloist of the Ancient Music Ensemble “Tagharan” (Artistic Director and Conductor: Sedrak Yerkanyan, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Armenia), began collaborating with the ensemble in 2018 and has been its principal soloist since 2020.
In an interview with “Aravot”, the singer noted that under Maestro Sedrak Yerkanyan’s baton she has experienced a fruitful, productive, and beautiful creative period. Together with “Tagharan”, she has taken part in concerts featuring diverse and engaging programs—from arrangements of Armenian folk melodies to Komitas’s works in German and his well-known songs such as “Garun a,” “Dle Yaman,” “Krunk.”
“In addition to concerts featuring Komitas’s adaptations arranged by Maestro Yerkanyan, we have performed numerous Baroque concerts, presenting works by Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell, and other composers of the Baroque era in compelling interpretations. These performances have continuously refined my professional skills in the Baroque genre, allowing me to become more deeply acquainted with and interpret in this style,” noted Gayane Ghambaryan.
She also reflected on her solo recitals within the framework of her collaboration with “Tagharan”:
“Almost every year I give a recital concert, some accompanied solely by Maestro Yerkanyan, which makes me very happy and proud. Each time we choose an interesting theme around which we build the program. For example, in 2024 we presented a concert titled “Grazie a Puccini”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death, featuring exclusively Puccini’s works. Before that, I gave a recital devoted entirely to Western European bel canto arias, again accompanied by Maestro Yerkanyan; in the second half, there were duet performances with violin and voice.
“In September 2025, another significant recital concert took place, primarily featuring excerpts—arias and romances—from Spanish zarzuelas, arranged with great dedication by the Maestro. I had the opportunity to present this beautiful program, enriched with dance numbers and Spanish color, to the public together with the “Tagharan” ensemble.”
The singer emphasized that each year, through the format of a solo recitals, she presents a kind of personal and artistic report—both to herself and to her audience—demonstrating how she has refined her professional skills and what new artistic benchmark she has set.
“On February 26, an especially important concert will take place. At the Komitas Chamber Music Hall, the “Tagharan” Ancient Music Ensemble will present a program that includes Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”. I will perform the soprano part, and the mezzo-soprano part will be sung by our other soloist, Lusine Markosyan, one of the longstanding “cornerstone” soloists of “Tagharan”.
“For me, this is a kind of premiere and a very responsible concert. During this period, I am focusing more deeply on the spiritual content and emotions the composer sought to express in depicting the Virgin Mother mourning at the foot of the Cross. I feel that nothing that happens to us is accidental; during times like this, one senses everything more intensely, seeks to be filled with that content, becomes more sensitive to emotional nuances, and tries to express all of that through the voice. This role will further enhance my mastery of music from that period, as it belongs to the philosophical worldview of Baroque music.”
When we observed that her artistic interests seem closely tied to opera—particularly Italian operatic masterpieces—and asked which roles she has performed and which she considers her calling card, Gayane Ghambaryan responded:
“Alongside the concert genre, opera singing is a very important and beloved part of my artistic life. Since childhood, I have felt that there is a special place in my heart where opera lives—first and foremost Italian opera.
“In 2022, I had the good fortune to make my debut at the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre as Violetta in Verdi’s ” La Traviata”. I consider this role my calling card because it suits my voice type—a lyric-dramatic soprano—with its technical demands and profound psychological depth. It is a role that reveals the beauty and humanity within you.
“I have also performed the role of Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto”. I was given that opportunity in June–July 2024 while studying at the Greve Opera Academy in Italy. At the Academy, I had the privilege of studying with distinguished specialists in Italian opera and the Italian vocal school, including Armando Ariostini—who has performed in major Italian opera houses and is an esteemed vocal teacher; Giacomo Benedetti, pianist, harpsichordist, and opera coach; and Paolo Bellocci, who collaborated for many years with the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as an expert in Italian operatic repertoire, as well as other experienced professionals.
“They taught the nuances of the Italian operatic tradition—vocal technique, linguistic and stylistic expression, and stage artistry. That period was extremely important for me in deepening my knowledge, experience, and mastery of Italian opera singing.
“I also had premieres in other venues, performing Mimì (Puccini’s “La Bohème”) and Gilda (“Rigoletto”). The role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” was likewise very significant for me, as it allowed me to elevate my vocal and performance abilities to a new level and interpret Mozartian heroines…
“Why do I love opera so much? Because it is a fusion of theater and music. When you embody a heroine, the theatrical component allows you to analyze more deeply, to decipher unknown parts within yourself, and then share them with the audience. It is a fascinating process, united with music—which is divine and incomparable—and it is a tremendous joy and privilege to serve such music.”
We also spoke about international competitions and asked what they have meant for her. In 2023, Gayane Ghambaryan became a laureate of the “Golden Talent” International Competition in the United Kingdom, and in 2024 she won First Prize at the 31st International Competition-Festival “Les Étoiles de Paris 2024.”
She noted that both her participation in competitions and her professional singing career began relatively late:
“For various reasons, I had the opportunity to begin fully using my voice only at nearly 30 years old, which was an interesting experience. You find yourself at a point where your age is no longer considered “competitive”, and it becomes more difficult to advance because the accepted standards are different. Establishing oneself internationally at my age may seem like making the impossible possible, but it is also an interesting path. On the other hand, everything has its meaning—blossoming at this age, singing about universal values and beauty; this too is my path, which I strive to walk with dignity. As for competitions, victory is a source of validation and confidence, and that is gratifying.”
Speaking about important collaborations, she highlighted her concerts with virtuoso violinist Nikolay Madoyan in January and March 2023 with “Tagharan”:
“We transformed Vivaldi’s arias—transposed by Maestro Yerkanyan for soprano voice—into duets for voice and violin, which were very warmly received by the audience. Performing with Nikolay Madoyan is a great pleasure, because the deeply emotional timbre of his violin greatly enhances the conveyance of the magical world of Vivaldi’s music. He performed violin concertos while I sang arias from Vivaldi’s repertoire.”
She also emphasized her October 2025 collaboration and the happiness of sharing the stage with world-renowned soprano Hasmik Papian:
“Ms. Papian staged Terrence McNally’s play “Master Class” at the Conservatory’s Opera Studio, a work about Maria Callas giving a master class to students. I was cast as one of the students, performing Lady Macbeth. After I sang Lady Macbeth, Ms. Papian said I could already move toward somewhat more dramatic roles. She is one of those rare intellectuals and artists who spares no effort in helping talented young singers navigate this difficult path and in generously sharing her vast experience.”
Gayane Ghambaryan also shared that on May 27 of this year they will reprise the solo recital titled “De España vengo” featuring Spanish zarzuelas and songs. According to the singer, beyond its artistic beauty, the concert required considerable effort and dedication.
Soprano Gayane Ghambaryan is deeply devoted to her art. In her words, love, dedication, and faith in what one does are essential in a singer’s creative life:
“Sometimes you reach dark moments in life, face obstacles, and try to find a point of support and a reason to keep walking—especially when there are global cataclysms, human and natural disasters, when the world seems to grow more inhumane and spiritual values are suppressed. When you view everything in the context that you are not engaged in this art in vain—that you are one of the torchbearers of beautiful music, which eternally renews and consoles and speaks of a world that is perfect, beautiful, and humane—the colors of life immediately change.
“For me, the voice is the golden thread that connects me to the supernatural and the transcendent. Singing is a prayer—whether I sing in a church or on a secular stage. It is a path toward God.
“And to have the strength to walk a road filled with obstacles, it is very important to meet people along the way who believe in your talent and your message and extend a helping hand. One of my teachers, Daniel Yerazhisht, used to say that people are like instruments of God through whom He plays His divine melody. If something is meant to happen, people appear on your path who reach out, who believe in you, and that helps you move forward. I am eternally grateful to them. I wish that every talented person might meet such helping hands along their path, because without the wings they give you, you cannot soar.”
Gohar Hakobyan
