Artsakh Echoes
A musical tribute to Armenia
Cellist Mikayel Hakhnazaryan, concert pianist Sofya Melikyan and the versatile violinist David Haroutunian share an incredible wealth of musical experience. In their dream trio formation, they take you to their musical roots in Armenia.
In October 2023, after the exile of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), they met Nariné Aghabalian, former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Artsakh. She gave them songs and melodies from Artsakh, which she managed to save during the Azerbaijani army’s invasion. The musicians had the music arranged for piano trio to give their region a voice on the international stage.
In the transcription by composer Artur Avanesov, the music from Artsakh is heard for the first time in Belgium. This also applies to the commissioned work that the renowned French composer Bruno Mantovani has written, inspired by musical motifs from Artsakh. During this concert, this music is framed by a cast-iron repertoire: Shostakovich’s trios and by Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian. A major discovery!
Pianist Sofya Melikyan, performs as a soloist with various European orchestras and has built up a loyal audience, especially in Spain. The activities of the versatile violinist David Haroutunian cover a broad spectrum, from classical music to traditional Armenian or Latin American and contemporary music. He lives and works in Paris. Mikayel Hakhnazaryan is a cellist of the renowned Kuss Quartet Berlin
The three musicians have performed in the world's greatest concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Wigmore Hall in London, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and the Berliner Philharmonie, among others.
- Dmitri Shostakovich, Piano Trio no.1 in C minor, Op. 8
- Artur Avanesov, Artsakh Echoes: folk songs from Artsakh arranged for piano trio (2024)
- Bruno Mantovani, Mélodies d'Artsakh (2024, world premiere)
- Arno Babadjanian, Piano Trio (1952)
Press
“The Armenian Trio has such skill in never slipping even in high melodic turns, mastering an avalanche of notes with bravura and subtlety and, no less important, displaying breathtaking poignancy in the blazing dark scherzo. This recording is a great joy…“ (Wiener Zeitung)
More info
with David Haroutunian (viola), Sofya Melikyan (piano) en Mikayel Hakhnazaryan (cello) photo by Kira Vygrivach
