Cellist from Armenia wins first prize at prestigious Tchaikovsky
competition in Russia

Arts and Culture | 01.07.11 | 14:02

Photolure

Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan from Armenia has won a gold medal and the
first prize (EUR 20,000) at the XIV International Tchaikovsky
Competition in Moscow.

Hakhnazaryan, 22, also took the audience award for an incredible
performance on the cello. Edgar Moreau of France took the second place
and Ivan Karizna from Belarus took a bronze medal

Hakhnazaryan has been at the centre of a scandal when the Russian
conductor Mark Gorenstein, insulted his ethnic origin during a
rehearsal for his concerto performance, by calling him an aul. (which
means a Caucasian village).

Gorenstein’s expression shocked the journalists who were present at
the rehearsal and made the incident public by issuing a statement.

`We believe that words, which insult human dignity, ruin the creative
atmosphere on which we make great efforts. The Tchaikovsky Competition
is to support young talents and both participants and organizers of
the competition should show respect towards talented youth,’ the
statement reads.

Gorenstein later offered an apology that was accepted by Hakhnazaryan.