Aram Khachaturian Trio from Yerevan Holds Concerts in Plovdiv and London

On May 20 and May 22, 2010, the Aram Khachaturian Trio from Yerevan held concerts in Plovdiv and London, respectively, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In Plovdiv, under the patronage of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Bulgaria, Sergey Manasarian, and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Bulgaria, Ehiazar Uzunyan, the Khachaturian Trio gave an outstanding concert on May 20. The musical group was invited to perform in Bulgaria by AGBU Plovdiv, with special assistance and sponsorship from the AGBU headquarters in New York and London.

Prior to the concert, the Khachaturian Trio spent a day in the heart of Plovdiv. Lilit Shahinyan, an AGBU scholarship recipient, Katya Dombakyan, AGBU Plovdiv's collaborator from Munich, and the young ethnologist Dimitar Krastev accompanied the trio on their tour around the city. The performers visited the Armenian Apostolic Church in Plovdiv, Sourp Kevork, its museum and the newly renovated Armenian Cultural Hall. They also visited the Art Academy in Plovdiv, where they were welcomed by one of the teaching assistants in the field of Bulgarian folkloric music. Students performed Bulgarian national dances and songs for the musicians and all guests in attendance.

The Plovdiv concert was held at the garden of the Ethnographic Museum. The evening's emcees, Lilit and Emma Shahinyan, kicked off the event with a welcome speech, focusing on the Armenian Genocide, Armenian culture, and the centennial of AGBU Plovdiv. They also thanked all of the individuals and AGBU entities that made the special event possible. After opening remarks, the Khachaturian Trio began its performance, and took the audience on an unforgettable musical journey.

The talented members of the Khachaturian Trio are pianist Armine Grigoryan, violinist Karen Shahgaldyan, and cellist Karen Kocharyan. The trio played the astonishing "Elegant Trio" by S. Rachmaninov, as well as "Shushanik," "Alailush" and "Vagharshapad Dance" by E. Mirzoyan. The musicians also performed well-known pieces by Komitas, arranged by Aram Khachaturian.

Distinguished guests of the concert included Ehiazar Uzunyan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Bulgaria and chairman of the Sourp Kevork Armenian Church parish council; Todor Hristev, deputy chair of the Municipality of Plovdiv; Agop Ormandjiyan, Professor and Head of Armenian Studies Department in Sofia University and guest editor of the Armenian newspaper "AGBU Voice," which is published by AGBU Plovdiv; Sonia Avakian-Bedrossian, chairwoman of AGBU Sofia; Edouard Arsenian, chair of the coordinating council of the Armenian organizations in Plovdiv who has also served as a longtime AGBU Plovdiv board member; Seta Manikyan, chair of  HOM Plovdiv; Verjiniya Garabedian, principal of "Viktoria and Krikor Tyutyundjyan," the only Armenian day school in Bulgaria; Samanto Madjar, chair of the "Shalom" Jewish organization in Plovdiv; and Garo Baltayan, chair of the Armenian association of culture and arts in Plovdiv.

Following its successful concert in Plovdiv, the Khachaturian Trio traveled to London and gave another outstanding concert on May 22 at St. Yeghishe Armenian Apolistic Church. The event was organized by the London branch of AGBU. The concert was the trio's debut performance in London, and it was attended by both Armenian and non-Armenian music lovers. The musicians repeated the success of their Plovdiv concert, and received multiple standing ovations. One of the attendees, a pianist from France, heard the works of Komitas, Babajanian and Mirzoyan for the first time. She said of the concert, "I was mesmerized by the trio's extraordinary performances."

The concerts in Plovdiv and London alike were met with great enthusiasm and demonstrated how the Khachaturian Trio has managed to create an impressive musical trinity. By interweaving their profound sense of harmony with perfected technique and craftsmanship, the talented musicians created two remarkable and memorable musical performances.