NEW CLASSICAL TRACKS: SONGS OF ARMENIA, HAUNTING AND LYRICAL
by Julie Amacher

Minnesota Public Radio
/2008/11/04/classical_tracks/
Nov 5 2008
MN

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian appears in opera houses throughout
the world. But on her new disc, she returns to music from her own
heritage — the songs of the composer Gomidas, considered the founder
of Armenian classical music.

St. Paul, Minn. — Gomidas Vartabed never composed an opera, a
symphony, or a concerto, yet he’s known as the "father of Armenian
classical music." His transcriptions of ancient songs and sacred chants
are invaluable gifts to the Armenian culture. Isabel Bayrakdarian
was inspired to record the rarely performed songs of Gomidas after
making her first trip to her ancestral home of Armenia a few years ago.

Today Lebanese-born soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian lives in Toronto,
Canada, with her husband, pianist and musicologist Serouj Kradjian
and their young son.

She burst onto the international opera scene in 2000 after
winning first prize in the Operalia competition founded by Placido
Domingo. She’s followed a unique career path ever since.

In 2002 she was featured on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack for
"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." She’s earned four Canadian
Juno Awards for her classical recordings, and she’s appeared in opera
houses around the world.

Did I mention she also holds a degree in biomedical engineering from
the University of Toronto?

Rev. Gomidas was a pioneering musician and an ordained priest, who in
the 1890s, started studying Armenian folk music. He transcribed it,
he used it in his own music and he made it better known in other
countries.

Gomidas survived the Armenian genocide of 1915, but he never recovered
from its horror. Gomidas became a ghost of his former self, never
composing or singing again before dying in a mental institution near
Paris in 1935.

Serouj Kradjian, Isabel’s husband, learned that before Gomidas was
deported, he had intended to arrange many of his songs for a larger
ensemble to accompany the voice. In the spirit of the composer,
Kradjian has created beautiful ensemble arrangements of these songs
for this recording.

Gomidas wrote songs that are simple yet evocative. They often express
a yearning for the Armenian homeland.

"The Apricot Tree" is a song of longing for better days. Soprano
Isabel Bayrakdarian sings with soaring passion as she asks the tree
to bring her suffering to an end. The song ends very prayerfully as
she whispers her request.

The duduk, an Armenian wind instrument made from the apricot tree,
adds an evocative sound to the songs of Gomidas. The duduk evokes a
mood of mystery in the song, "Spring."

Spring is often a time of joy and renewal. It’s a time of sadness
in this song, however, as the snow falls in early spring and the
young women’s lover remains cool toward her. The lyrical quality of
Bayrakdarian’s voice is most beautiful in these slow, mournful songs.

There are so many just plain gorgeous melodies on this recording. "Tall
as the Poplar Tree" is a romantic love song that you’ll want to hear
again and again. Bayradkarian’s gentle soprano voice captures the
genuine feelings expressed for a lover who is too far from home.

Throughout this recording, the Chamber Players of the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra add a charming touch to the simple songs of
Gomidas. I especially like the way Isabel Bayrakdarian initiates
a little cat and mouse game with the wind players in the song,
"I Cannot Dance."

There are songs that will make you dance, cry, and smile on this new
collection of songs by Gomidas.

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian taps into a well of emotion as she
shares these songs of her Armenian heritage. When you join her for
the journey, you’ll find it’s an enriching experience.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress