STUNNING DUO PIANO AND VOCAL PERFORMANCE AT CSU, FRESNO

Asbarez
Apr 14th, 2010

FRESNO-Two Armenian pianists, Naira Shahsouvarian and Maria
Amirkhanian, elated the music-loving community in Fresno with a
stunning duo-piano performance followed by a vocal performance,
featuring soprano Anahit Nersessian. The event, held at the Concert
Hall in CSU Fresno, took place on Sunday, March 28, 2010. More than
250 people attended and enjoyed a fabulous musical selection. The
guests were amazed at the high quality musical program as well as
the caliber of the musicians featured.

The piano selections included contemporary classical music from
around the world, which incorporated composers from South America,
Europe and the United States, among others. The performance began
with two numbers from George Gershwin’s "Porgy and Bess" suite and
concluded with the "Armenian Rhapsody" by Alexander Harutunian and
Arno Babajanian, which brought the audience to their feet.

"It was a wonderful Concert," said Dr. Steve D. Lewis, Chair, Associate
Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences,
at CSU Fresno. "The piano music was spectacular, and the vocal
performance was really magnificent."

The Shahsouvarian-Amirkhanian duo demonstrated their immense talent
throughout their performance. One could feel the musicians’ sense
of enjoyment whether they were playing the slow and Latin-infused
"Milonga de Angel" by Astor Piazolla or his more upbeat and rhythmic
"Libertango."

The artistic and technical ability of the two pianists charmed the
audience. The audience could feel the lovers’ cry in Gershwin’s
Porgy and Bess while the performers’ dazzling technical proficiency
was put on display in the first movements of Milhaud’s "Scaramouche"
suite and Poulenc’s "Capriccio."

Soprano Anahit Nersessian delighted the audience with her beautiful and
highly expressive voice during the second half of the program. She
was accompanied by Naira Shahsouvarian on piano. Known for her
excellent coloratura techniques Anahit captivated her listeners with
her interpretation of Johannes S. Bach’s Matthaus-Passion, Heitor
Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras, Edward Mirzoian’s Dou Hasgadzar,
Maurice Ravel’s Habanera as well as classic Armenian songs such as
Romanos Melikian’s Varte, and the encore presentation of Parsegh
Ganachian’s lullaby: Oror.

The Honorable Grigor Hovhannessian, Council General of Armenia, who
made a special trip from Los Angeles to Central California to attend
the concert, was the guest of honor.

The concert was organized by the Armenian Heritage Museum in Fresno,
and supported by the Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG), Charlie
Keyan Armenian Community School, Triple X Fraternity, Fresno Chapter;
Hamazkayin Armenian cultural Association – Taniel Varoujan Chapter,
Tekeyan Cultural Association, and Fresno Piano and Organ.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress