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| | Arts Calendar / October 31 / Concerts |
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19:00 | Jivan Gasparian (Armenia) |
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Jivan Gasparian is a living legend of the world music. His sorrowful and passionate duduk is an ultimate expression of the Armenian soul. It is thanks to the efforts of this phenomenal virtuoso, that the world has been introduced to the folklore and traditions of Armenia. His concerts are "elegiac, sultry, nostalgic and reverent dramas," says Jon Pareles of New York Times. Known in his home country as Uncle Jivan, he is, without doubt, one of the most emotional and sincere musicians of the world. Jivan Gasparian was born in 1928 in Solag, a small village near Yerevan. When he was 6, he taught himself to play the duduk, listening to old masters and copying their style. His professional career took off in 1947 on stage of the Bolshoi theatre. He was then in a folk band which took part in the Arts Festival of the Soviet Republics. Joseph Stalin was in the audience that night and after the show he expressed his willingness to meet the young musician. Jivan was scared to death: he didn't know that the tyrant only wanted to give him a "Pobeda" gold watch as a present. In just a year Gasparian became the soloist of Tatul Altunyan's Song and Dance Popular Ensemble and the Yerevan Philarmonic Orchestra. Jivan Gasparian has won 4 gold medals at UNESCO worldwide music competitions (1959, 1962, 1973 and 1980). In 1988 English musician Brian Eno happened to hear the "keeper of the Armenian musical heritage" play and invited him in London. There his first album I Will Not Be Sad In This World, consisting of ancient Armenian ballads, was recorded. "Without doubt it is one of the most beautiful and soulful recordings I have ever heard," says Eno. This record, a tribute to the victims of the earthquake in Armenia, propelled Jivan Gasparian to international stardom. Since then Jivan Gasparian has been touring the world and recording new albums (The Soul of Armenia, Heavenly Duduk, Apricots from Eden, Tribute). He has collaborated with Lionel Richie, Peter Gabriel, Boris Grebenshchikov, Brian May, Michael Brook, Derek Sherenian and other renowned musicians. In the early 1990s Jivan Gasparian moved to the USA, but then returned to Armenia to become a professor of Yerevan State Musical Conservatory, where he has educated more than 70 duduk players. "The king of the duduk's" contribution to the popularization of Armenian folk music is unprecedented. Now you can be enchanted by the unearthly sound of this ancient instrument, featured in symphonic works, intricate jazz improvisations and along rock riffs. The Master also plays the zurna, the flute and the clarinet. He is also a composer, a singer and a poet.
Estrada Theater  |
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19:00 | National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia |
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National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia (music director and chief conductor - Vladimir Spivakov) and one of the most interesting and unusual pianists today Zlata ?hochieva conducted by Ben Gernon (UK) will perform Concert overture "In the South" ("Alassio") for orchestra by Elgar, "Paganini Rhapsody" for piano and orchestra by Rachmaninov and Symphony # 2 by Brahms. The National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) was founded in January 2003 by the Ministry of Culture as commissioned by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The orchestra united top orchestra musicians and gifted youth. The Orchestra was headed by Vladimir Spivakov, a world-known violinist and conductor. During the five years of its activities, the NPR has succeeded in becoming one of the best symphonic orchestras of Russia and in gaining admiration from the audience and recognition from the professionals. Prominent conductors are collaborating and regularly performing with the NPR. Along with Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic of Russia prepares new programmes and gives concerts with world-known maestros James Conlon, Alexander Lazarev, as well as Krzysztof Penderecki, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Nelson, Hans Graf, George Cleve, Okko Kamu, Michel Plasson, Eri Klas, Saulus Sondeckis. Every year the NPR takes part in the Colmar Music Festival, France. The orchestra has toured over the CIS countries and the Baltic countries, in Europe, the USA, and Japan. British conductor Ben Gernon studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he held the Conducting Fellowship. In 2013 he won the internationally acclaimed Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award. Ben was recently appointed a Dudamel Fellow with the LA Philharmonic by Gustavo Dudamel, and will make his BBC Proms debut in the 2014 season, conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall |
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