Armenian State Symphony Orchestra’s 21st season to feature world-renowned musicians

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra is launching its 21st concert season with world-renowned soloists, major concerts in Armenia and planned tours abroad, as the orchestra continues to expand its role in the country’s cultural life.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Tigran Virabyan and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra Sergey Smbatyan presented the new season’s programs, upcoming initiatives and invited artists at a press conference held ahead of the season’s launch.

Virabyan said that the main event of the previous concert season, the symphony orchestra’s major concert held at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, was historic for Armenia’s cultural life and demonstrated that there are many classical music lovers in the country.

“This orchestra stands out for its multifunctional role and is a genuine model of a modern ensemble, because having several orchestras specializing in strictly defined genres is a luxury nowadays. Therefore, our cultural life needs an orchestra that is ready to perform with world-renowned pianist Lang Lang and, making a rapid transition between genres, perform with Jako of the Ladaniva group. This speaks to the flexibility and modernity of our orchestra,” Virabyan said.

He added that the symphony orchestra had understood much earlier what audiences, particularly young people, needed and had therefore followed, through its programs, and continues to follow, the path taken by major ensembles.

“The symphony orchestra brought this culture to Armenia, and now everyone appreciates this culture greatly, which is very welcome. Concert halls are packed, and while attending these concerts, people are becoming connected with the orchestra and attending concerts in other genres as well, without deviating from genre conventions.

“We have quite interesting initiatives planned for the upcoming 21st concert season. The ensemble has set itself the task not only of performing in Armenia but also abroad, especially since the symphony orchestra is particularly in demand among the Armenian Diaspora,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to Virabyan, the orchestra’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor is also in great demand around the world and is capable of conducting the world’s best orchestras.

“We also have brilliant artists who perform memorable concerts on world-renowned stages, presenting renowned works of classical music. They include Gevorg Hakobyan, Liparit Avetisyan, Juliana Grigoryan and others. This is the golden generation that is capable of presenting Armenian classical music to the world.

“There are many programs related to the 21st concert season. The orchestra stands out for its educational component and attaches great importance to students of music schools, helping them engage with classical music. Although there are not that many regional tours, we will try to make up for this gap in 2027. We have prepared a major program that will significantly invigorate cultural life in the regions,” Virabyan said.

According to him, the main event of the current year will be dedicated to another anniversary of Armenia’s independence. A major concert will be held at Republic Square, with the participation of the Armenian National Academic Choir and the Karen Sevak Band as well.

Another important event will take place in Vanadzor on September 18, where a symphonic and folk music concert will be held, one of the symphony orchestra’s most popular programs.

“The Armenian Symphony Orchestra is one of the best things that has happened to us in our cultural life over the past twenty years. I am confident that we will have quite a good concert season,” Virabyan concluded.

Smbatyan, in turn, noted that the previous concert season confirmed that Armenian classical music has a very large audience and enjoys widespread recognition, which is a major achievement for the symphony orchestra.

“We will have the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport in implementing all our major initiatives, and therefore we highly value our effective cooperation in this regard. During the 21st concert season, world-renowned soloists will come to Yerevan. The whole world follows them.

“Our orchestra has the ability to work across multiple genres, but by first and foremost inviting classical stars to Armenia, we are further emphasizing our country’s role on the global cultural map. We have another important mission: to represent Armenian cultural heritage abroad with dignity. From this perspective, we have planned important tours,” Smbatyan said.

The speakers also announced the names of the world-renowned soloists who will visit Armenia this year, although some of them have previously had the opportunity to perform with the symphony orchestra in Yerevan.

They include Behzod Abduraimov (piano), Bruce Liu (piano), Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin), David Carpenter (viola), Sergei Nakariakov (trumpet), Pablo Sáinz Villegas (guitar), Alexander Malofeev (piano), Timothy Ridout (viola), Alice Sara Ott (piano), Guy Johnston (cello), and Camille Thomas (cello).