Armenian Brilliance

Nikolay Madoyan (violin), Armine Grigoryan (piano)

Small in form yet rich in artistic significance, these delightful Armenian works for violin and piano are both evocative and songful. Komitas Vardapet’s poetic examples include Krounk (‘The Crane’), the anthemic symbol of the motherland, whilst Khachaturian is represented by his enticing Dance in B flat major, his first ever work, and by violin arrangements from his popular ballet Gayane. This album presents some of Armenia’s finest composers in a programme of nostalgic evocations, folkloric infusions and exquisite melodies.

Komitas (1869-1935) , Sarkis Barkhudarian (1887-1973) , Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) , Eduard Abramian (1923-1986) , Alexander Arutjunjan (1920-2012) , Tsolak Bekarian (1922-1980) , Eduard Bagdasarian (1922-1987) , Edvard Mirzoian (1921-2012)

Abramian: Concert Scherzo for Violin & Piano
Arutiunian: Dance for Violin & Piano
Barkhudarian: Sirouhis
Khachaturian: Adagio of Spartacus & Phrygia (from Spartacus)
Khachaturian: Dance No. 1
Khachaturian: Gayaneh: Ouzun
Mirzoyan: Perpetuum mobile
Vardapet: Dsirani dsar
Vardapet: K'eler, tsoler
Vardapet: Kak'avi erg
Vardapet: Krunk
Vardapet: Vagharshapati Par

Christmas 2023

An enjoyable exploration of some of Armenia’s finest composers that ranges from the famous Adagio from Khachaturian’s Spartacus and the lushly romantic Nocturne by Baghdasarian to folkier works by the likes of Arutiunian and Mirzoyan.