On May 6, 2016 at 19:00-21:30 p. m. a concert took place in the Aram Khachatryan concert hall dedicated to the Armenian-Japanese collaboration. Composer, pianist Karen Hakobyan (USA) performed on the Yerevan stage together with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra: his works were also performed there. The concert was led by the Japanese conductor Hisayoshi Inoue.
In 1993 with the invitation of Loris Tjeknavoryan conductor Hisayoshi Inoue led the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra regularly receiving invitations until 2000. Due to Hisayoshi Inoue’s active assistance in April 2000, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra received financial assistance from the Government of Japan in order to buy new musical instruments. In appreciation of that step, the Philharmonic together with the Japan Foundation organized a week of the Japanese music. At present, Hisayoshi Inoue is the music director of Japan Sinfonia and Japan Gustav Mahler Orchestra. Since 2013 Hisayoshi Inoue is a guest professor at National Music College of Mongolia and a guest conductor of Mongolian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
At the opening of the concert, there was performed the anthem of Japan.
At the beginning of the concert there was performed “Sounds” by Yasushi Akutagawa for organ and orchestra (13 minutes) – Hovhannes Manukyan, organ.
Then there performed on the stage Karen Hakobyan: Vocalise for Voice and Orchestra Op. 9 /Armenian Premiere/ (7:50 min) – Soloist: Narine Ananikyan, mezzo soprano.
After that, there performed Karen Hakobyan “Symphonic Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Op. 17” /World Premiere/ (22 minutes).
In the second part of the concert, there were performed fragments from Aram Khachatryan’s ballet “Spartacus”, Yuzo Toyama’s “Rhapsody” for orchestra.
As soloists there performed the organist Hovhannes Manukyan and mezzo-soprano Narine Ananikyan.
At the end of the concert there was performed the anthem of Armenia.
Author: H. Muradyan
translated from Armenian into English by M.Vardanyan