KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI TO BE HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF PROSPECTS OF 21st YEREVAN FESTIVAL
Noyan Tapan
April 11, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Henceforth the days of world-famous
composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki in Armenia will become
traditional and Penderecki himself will become the Honorary Chairman of
the Prospects of 21st International Music Festival. Stepan Rostomian,
the festival Director, said on April 11. According to him, Krzysztof
Penderecki’s visit to Armenia is a historic event, as one of "the last
of the Mohicans" of great music of the 20th century visited Armenia
thanks to this festival of classical music having international
authority.
During his second meeting with Armenian journalists Penderecki said
that he is too impressed by the festival. "The festival is organized
in line with all international standards. And orchestras and choirs,
which performed my works, showed high professionalism," Mr Penderecki
said. The maestro is especially impressed by the performances of
the Armenian State Academic and Hover chamber choirs conducted by
Hovhannes Chekijian and Sona Hovhannisian.
Krzysztof Penderecki is especially delighted with performances of
Komitas’ works (for instance, Chekijian’s choir, on April 7, before
Penderecki’s Stabat Mater performed Sand Song by Komitas). "Komitas
is unique and cannot be compared with anyone. He is very close to
his national traditions," he emphasized. The maestro said that his
next work will have Armenian lyrics.
According to the world-famous composer, when creating for him the
most important is not form, but the cosmic material that is the
basis of the creation. The musician having Armenian roots feels a
complete Polish and in the respect of creation he is international,
with traditions of German classical music as a basis.
Krzysztof Penderecki expressed gratitude to festival’s organizers
for giving him a possibility to visit Armenia. The maestro also said
that he gained "good friends in Armenia, with which I am connected
through not only music, but also through human relationship." And
as Mr Rostomian said, world-famous cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich’s
last Moscow student Ivan Monighetti has made much contribution in
the issue of maestro’s coming to Armenia. I.
Monighetti for already several times has participated in the Armenian
festival.
Krzysztof Penderecki’s wife, Elzbieta Penderecka, who was present at
the meeting and is the Chairwoman of Beethoven International Music
Festival being held In Warsaw, said that Armenia will take part in
that authoritative festival from next year.
Famous musician-performers Ivan Monighetti, Andrzej Bauer, Chrisian
Altenburger, Arto Noras, and Michele Letik taking part in Penderecki
festival said that they have good impressions from Armenia. In
particular, they highly evaluated the fact that there are many
young people among concert’s spectators, who take interest in modern
music. They also noted that elderly people and pensioners are mainly
among the spectators in European countries.