Concert/Three Sopranos Escape the Ordinary – June 12

Amaras Art Alliance of Watertown will host “Escape The Ordinary” a concert of three sopranos on Sunday, June 12 at 3:00 p.m. at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington. The three sopranos, Nuneh Badalyan, Noune Karapetian and Jane Shivick will perform popular songs and duets from musical theater, arias from beloved operas, popular Latin-American songs as well as Armenian pieces.

Amaras Art Alliance founder Arax Badalian says” the three women will introduce interesting harmonies in all the music that has been arranged by Artur Veranian. We all are familiar with the famous Three Tenors who each sing one line. Our three sopranos, Nuneh, Noune and Jane, are introducing beautiful harmonies in many of the pieces in just the right places to keep the concert exciting and sounding new. I know audiences will be thrilled to hear these beautiful voices, singing music that will help us all escape the ordinary – if only for the afternoon. The three sopranos will be together for only this one performance – you don’t want to miss them.”

Pianist Levon Hovsepian will accompany the three singers. Additionally, there will be three special guests, including Roberto Cassan, accordion; violinist Sarkis Karapetyan and Zori Babroudi playing the duduk.

The three sopranos, all international performers with vast experience in the performing arena, come from varied musical backgrounds.

Nuney Badalyan is an active soloist and chamber musician who tours extensively with the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenian. Badalyan, a native of Armenia, performs world-wide, and has sung with the Armenian Philharmonic, Canterbury (United Kingdom) Festival Orchestra, and at Cagne-Sur-Mer in France. She has recorded a number of CDs most notably Puccini’s Il Tabarro in the role of Giorgietta. Her solo recital debut at Rachmaninoff Hall in Moscow in 1996 coincided with the receipt of her diploma of distinction at the Rimsky-Korsakov International Competition in St. Petersburg.

Noune Karapetian has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The Boston Phoenix commented on her distinctive timbre and lovely stage presence. Most recently she created the role of Violetta in La Traviata with the Granite State Opera. International critics called her singing “breathtaking.” Last year, Karapetian was the soloist in the New England tour of the Kinodance Company, a company and performance that was described by the Boston Globe as a “breathtaking synthesis of live and filmed dance. Kinodance’s production of Denizen, inspired by the land and music of Armenia,” continued the Boston Globe, “got new meaning with Ms. Karapetian’s interpretation of songs by Komitas.” Karapetian developed the vocal score as well as the role of the Goddess Anahit for Kinodance. Karapetian tours throughout the United States singing in recitals and with numerous opera companies such as Opera Boston, Pacific Repertory Opera, Opera Providence, Granite State Opera and others. She is also the creative force behind the children’s CD Tsapik, released in 2007. The CD was nominated as the Best Children’s Album at the Armenian Music Awards of 2007.

Jane Shivick, praised by the New York Times for her “character and vocal richness” is a New England based performer. The Boston Globe affirms that “Shivick has a voice evenly glamorous throughout its compass and an engaging stage presence.” Shivick is a national winner of the renowned Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, and was awarded a debut performance and NPR broadcast with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under the direction of Sir Charles Mackerras. She has also been a winner at the Metropolitan Opera New England Regional National Council Audition and the Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Competition. She has performed extensively with orchestras throughout New England and the United States including the Boston Pops, Boston Civic Symphony, Indian Hill Symphony, New Philharmonia Orchestra as well as with Opera Providence and the Aspen Opera Theater Center in Colorado.

Tickets ranging from $20-$50 are available for “Escape the Ordinary” online at amarasonline.com; or calling 617-331-0426, 617-930-0181 or 781-862-4788.

The National Heritage Museum is located at 33 Marrett Road, at the intersection of Route 2A and Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington, MA.

Amaras Art Alliance of Watertown, MA creates opportunities for people to observe, get involved and enjoy the traditions and customs of our diverse cultures, from the folk to the fine arts…Amaras invites you to join them on the voyage.