Chitchyan - Ballet Suite
One of Armenia’s most beloved composers, Geghuni Chitchyan is known for her lyrical warmth, elegant craftsmanship, and deep connection to Armenian folk traditions. Her Ballet Suite is a vibrant, colorful work that captures the rhythmic life and tender spirit of her homeland. Drawing inspiration from Armenian dances and melodies, the suite flows between sparkling vitality and heartfelt lyricism. Bright, folk-inflected themes and lively rhythms evoke scenes of celebration and community, while more reflective passages reveal Chitchyan’s gift for delicate, singing lines and graceful harmonic shading. Throughout, her music is richly evocative yet economical, blending tradition with a modern, personal voice. In the Ballet Suite, Chitchyan creates a tapestry of moods — from joy and playfulness to nostalgic reflection — offering a musical portrait of Armenian spirit that is both timeless and deeply human.
Bagdasaryan - Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra
A brilliant figure in 20th-century Armenian music, Arno Babadjanian (sometimes spelled Bagdasaryan) infused his works with passion, virtuosity, and a vivid national spirit. His Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra, composed in 1949, is a dazzling showcase of Armenian soul expressed through the lyricism and fire of the violin. Rooted in the deep well of Armenian folk music, the Rhapsody sings and dances with freedom and flair. The solo violin weaves soaring melodies, fiery runs, and intricate ornaments, often echoing the improvisatory spirit of the traditional ashugh — the Armenian troubadour. Beneath the violin’s flights, the orchestra provides a rich tapestry of rhythmic drive and expressive color, alternating between tender introspection and exuberant celebration. Although the work is free in form, it moves with an organic momentum, balancing moments of virtuosic brilliance with heartfelt lyricism. Through it all, Babadjanian’s Rhapsody captures the voice of a people — resilient, proud, and full of life — in a musical language that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
Sargis Karapetyan, violin, holds a Master's Degree and Artist Diploma in Violin Performance from the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia. Mr. Karapetyan has been the Director of Pedagogy Courses and a lecturer at the String Instrument Department of the Conservatory. He also was the Artistic Director of Ancient Music Ensemble and the concertmaster of the Children's Opera Theater. Mr. Karapetyan has worked as an assistant concertmaster of “Gelikon” Opera Theater and the “Competition Winners” chamber Orchestra in Moscow, Russia. Mr. Karapetyan has worked with many New England orchestras, including Rhode Island Philharmonic, Granite State Opera, Granite State Symphony, and Nashua Symphony Orchestra of NH. Mr. Karapetyan is a former faculty member at the Boston Conservatory and Clark University. As a recitalist he has performed throughout New England, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Hovhaness - Symphony No. 1 “Exile”
Alan Hovhaness, one of the most singular voices in American music, composed his Symphony No. 1, “Exile” as a profound act of remembrance and tribute. Drawing deeply from his Armenian heritage, Hovhaness wrote the symphony in memory of the Armenian people’s suffering during the genocide of 1915 — a tragedy that cast a long shadow over his life and creative spirit. The “Exile” Symphony unfolds as an elegy, marked by solemn dignity and a timeless, chant-like lyricism. Its musical language is simple yet deeply expressive: ancient-sounding modal melodies, long-breathed lines, and stark, often ritualistic textures. Rather than depicting violence or anger, Hovhaness’s music offers a voice of mourning and spiritual endurance — a reflection on loss, displacement, and the longing for a homeland. Though the work bears the marks of his early style, it already shows the hallmarks that would define Hovhaness’s later music: a mystical sense of space, a reverence for ancient traditions, and a belief in music as a form of healing. “Exile”remains a testament to memory, resilience, and the enduring human spirit in the face of sorrow.