‘OPERA’S’ FIRST CONCERT

Yerkir.am
December 01, 2006

A long awaited concert was held at the Komitas Chamber Music Hall on
November 26. There was no brass quintet in Armenia for over a quarter
of a century.

The Opera Quintet comes to fill in this gap. Advisor on music issues at
the Opera and Ballet Theater composer Ashot Babayan believes existence
of the brass quintet will encourage the Armenian composers to compose
music specifically for this band.

Deputy Director of the Opera and Ballet Theater Hrachya Grigorian is
the main initiator of the band. The band includes five young musicians
that also play in the orchestra of the Opera and Ballet Theater.

Gevorg Avetissian – flute, Rafayel Voskanian – oboe, Gurgen Kakoyan
– clarinet, Shmavon Grigorian – bassoon, and Vardan Anatolian –
trumpet. This was their first concert together and it was a big
success. Musicologist Valentin Tovmassian made opening remarks
before the concert. He spoke about the role and development of brass
instruments in our musical reality.

Tovmassian noted that the need for a brass band was felt a long
time ago. He remembered several musicians whose contribution to the
development of brass music has been great – Tatul Altunian, Aram
Mangassarian, Tsolak Vardazaian, Levon Aloyan.

The works of Armenian and foreign composers were performed during
the concert. Both instrumental and vocal performances were included
in the Opera Quintet ‘s repertoire. Leading soloists of the Opera
and Ballet Theater Armenuhi Seyranian (soprano) and Gevorg Hakobian
(baritone) performed with the Quintet.

The concert was a big success. Both the Opera Quintet and the soloists
were brilliant. Composer Ashot Babayan noted that even though the band
is still very young it has a great potential and is very promising. The
Opera Quintet is planning to participate in the brass instruments
festival that will be held in Yerevan in the end of this year.