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March 17, 2011
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra Toured Germany and Slovakia
APO performing at the famous “Reduta” in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Invited by the famous German Arts Concert agency, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra was on tour in Germany and Slovakia on November 27-30, 2010. The first two concerts took place in Frankfurt’s renowned Alte oper on November 28. Tickets for both concerts were sold out long before the start. Excerpts from Aram Khachatrian’s “Spartacus” ballet, Carl Maria von Weber’s concert for clarinet and orchestra (clarinet solo by Sabine Grofmeier), Borodin’s “Polowitz dances” and Dvorak’s “New World” ninth symphony were performed by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Eduard Topchjan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the APO. In its November 30th edition Frankfurter neue presse magazine published an article about the concert expressing its admiration for the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, its conductor Eduard Topchjan and “the Caucasian country with rich musical heritage.” Two days later, on November 30, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra performed in Bratislava’s “Reduta” hall. The concert program included Aram Khachatrian’s violin concerto (soloist Anush Nikoghosian), Shostakovich’s 5th symphony and excerpts from Khachatrian’s “Spartacus” ballet. Over the years the 85-year-old Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra has been headed by such prominent figures as Al. Spendiarian, K. Sarajian, O. Durian, V. Gergiyev, L. Tjeknavorian and others. In 1989, APO started touring different countries, including USA, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Topchjan was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the APO in 2000 and since then the orchestra has successfully toured in Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, France, Japan and other countries around the world. Answering a question about the lack of Armenian composers’ works in the orchestra’s touring repertoire Maestro Topchjan said, “We were planning to perform Avet Terterian’s Third symphony this time, but the concert program is approved by the inviting party. The APO performs in famous halls in different countries and the audience mainly consists of people who have season tickets, which means that the concert program is formed about a year ahead based on and taking into consideration the other orchestras’ repertoires performing in their country during the year and the audience’s demand”. The APO is sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
The APO performing in Frankfurt, Germany.
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