Artsakh Chamber Orchestra premier American visit – March 15

On Sunday March 15, 2015 the Artsakh Chamber Orchestra (ACO) delighted the New England community with a standing-ovation performance at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts. Invited by the International Competitions and Festivals of California, ACO’s premier American visit was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh and Amaras Art Alliance of Boston.

“Yearning for independence has been a centuries-long dream for the people of Artsakh (Karabagh)” said Arax Badalian, President of Amaras Art Alliance, Boston’s host organization, “Young and resilient, and despite all the challenges and hardships, people of Artsakh have persevered against all odds and have blossomed in the world of art and culture. I am so pleased that we were able to include our East Coast community in their itinerary.”

Headed by Maestro Gevorg Muradyan, a dynamic and vibrant conductor, ACO was established in 2004 at the efforts and financial backing of Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU.) In the 10 years since its creation the ACO has evolved into a fine musical ensemble with a repertoire that covers a wide range of musical feels.

A portion of ACO’s US travel expenses were underwritten by AGBU and the Armenia Fund Inc. Locally the project enjoyed the backing of Armenian Relief Society’s Leole Sasouni and Cambridge chapters as well as the New England Distinct chapter of AGBU while many families lovingly hosted musicians in their homes and several community members contributed financially to defray the expenses associated with this program.

Our visitors arrived from LA Saturday night, March 14 and were greeted at the Logan International Airport by committee members. The musicians and their host families gathered at the AGBU House in Watertown for refreshments and to get acquainted; and as is in most encounters with our brothers and sisters from Armenia, in a short time years and miles of separation vanished. A joyful and emotionally filled atmosphere developed and while goodbyes were said for the night everyone knew a fascinating day awaited us the next morning.

The concert on Sunday March 15 was absolutely enchanting. A robust performance by Maestro Muradian, a brilliant appearance by Wellesley resident Lilit Karapetian-Shougarian as guest soloist performing Bach’s “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D-minor” complimented by the prominent voice of Soprano Irina Zakyan form Yerevan and the a delightful performance by Lilit Petrosyan, ACO’s soloist, who sang “Anush” from the opera of the same name by A. Tigranyan and “Hayastan” by Rhode Island composer Konstantin Petrosyan. The program included many familiar as well as unique works culminating in Strauss’s “Redetzky March” where Maestro Muradyan turned and conducted the audience in applauds ending the event in an air of camaraderie and unison.

see program notes

video- excerpts from the concert

See Pictures

Sunday night and after the concert, hosted by New England Distinct chapter of AGBU and Amaras a reception was held in honor of the Artsakh guests, their host families and donors at the AGBU House. Monday most of the musicians elected to join a guided walking tour of Boston covering Harvard Square, the State House, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Armenian Heritage Park. Another reception was held Monday night at the invitation of the Armenian Relief Society at the American Armenian Social Club in Watertown. And Tuesday morning ACO members boarded a bus from the AGBU House to travel to New York’s JFK Airport where they would take their plane back home.

Let us recall these words form Director Muradyan’s opening remarks “… Armenians need just peaceful conditions … Hence we are creating in Stepanagert (capital city of Artsakh) … in the name of higher ideals and in the name of the future.”