At the initiative of the Ministries of Culture of Artsakh and Armenia and the Armenian Relief Society,American- Armenian renowned pianist Shahan Artsruni gave a charity concert in Stepanakert’s Musical College after Sayat Nova, on May 30.
Concert of American-Armenian renowned pianist Shahan Artsruni held in Stepanakert
STEPANAKERT, MAY 31 , ARTSAKHPRESS: In an interview with “ Artsakhpress”, Shahan Artsruni said that he is very happy to see how Artsakh has changed.
“I saw very beautiful buildings, crowded streets, new cultural centers in Stepanakert. It was very inspiring for me,” said the pianist, adding that in Stepanakert’s cultural institutions he saw all modern conditions necessary for the development of music art.
During the concert, the works of Komitas, Edward Mirzoyan, Alan Hovhaness, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin were played.
"I have heard about Artsakh’s talented children who present Armenian music art in various international stages at a high level. Now I have convinced that it is the result of consistent work, conditions and environment, which is very important for each artist, "said Sh. Artsruni. Referring to his concert held in Stepanakert, the pianist said that he is impressed by the audience.
"I saw a very literate audience, who did not only accept and understand my music, but also received my concert with warm applauses. It encouraged me to think about returning again and have concert here, "said Sh. Artsruni.
The renowned pianist also gave master classes in Stepanakert’s Musical College after Sayat Nova.
Shahan Artsruni is an ethnic Armenian classical pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist, lecturer, writer and producer.Shahan Artsruni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1943 and now lives in the USA.
He moved to New York in 1964 to study further at the Juilliard School of Music on a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.He also delivered papers and organized symposia for such institutions as Harvard University, Columbia University and University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Artsruni appeared in television and radio broadcasts, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show and a number of PBS specials and has recorded for European radio networks, including the BBC.
He has given command performances at the White House, as well as the British, Danish, Swedish, and Icelandic courts. In 2008, he was awarded "Honorary Professorship" from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia. In 2015, Shahan Artsruni was awarded the Presidential Movses Khorenatsi medal, the Republic of Armenia's highest cultural award.
He is one of the sponsors of the Aram Khachaturian House-Museum and the Vanadzor Retirement Home.
