ARMENIAN INSTITUTE - COMPOSER ASHOT ZOHRABYAN

ARMENIAN INSTITUTE

BECHSTEIN AT THE GULBENKIAN MUSIC SERIES

COMPOSER ASHOT ZOHRABYAN

in conversation with

LEVON CHILINGIRIAN, LEADER OF THE CHILINGIRIAN QUARTET.

Zohrabyan’s Piano Sonata will be played by Rebecca Wiles.

Wednesday, 21 January 2009, at 7:30 pm

Nevart Gulbenkian Hall, Iverna Gardens, London W8

(Tube: High Street Kensington)

Ashot Zohrabyan's compositions are played around the world and we are very fortunate to have an evening with him and his music. He will be speaking with Levon Chilingirian about his work, playing excerpts and answering questions about music-making in Armenia today. Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for informal conversations over wine.

Ashot Zohrabyan is Professor of Composition at Yerevan Conservatoire. A highly esteemed composer of orchestral, chamber and vocal works, Zohrabyan’s music often has a very meditative profile, at times rooted in medieval Armenian chant. His most important works include a symphony 'Hommage a Metsarents' (1986), 'Parabole', for small orchestra (1992), Concerto for violin and strings (2002), many chamber and vocal compositions, including two string quartets, both commissioned by the world-famous Kronos Quartet. Music by Zohrabyan has been widely performed in concert halls and important festivals in many countries around the former Soviet Union, Europe, the United States and Australia. His writing is always intellectual, rationally controlled and emotional at the same time, using a musical language with an organic mixture of Armenian roots, European technique and Oriental influences.

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