In December, the European Foundation for Support of Culture in collaboration with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and with support from the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Russian Federation presented an “Armenia” International Music Festival in Russia’s Moscow and in St. Petersburg for the first time.
The Festival featured charity events and concerts by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra at Russia’s best concert venues: the Grand Hall of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, the Moscow International House of Music, Moscow Concert Hall “Zaryadye”, in the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall and the St. Petersburg Music House. The Orchestra performed under the baton of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, founder, artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, maestro Sergey Smbatyan.
The brightest classical music stars were the concert’s soloists, such as Anna Kasyan (Georgia), winner of the Vibrarte International Competition in Paris; Boris Allakhverdyan (Russia), winner of many international competitions, principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Nareh Arghamanyan (Austria/Armenia), winner of the Montreal International Musical Competition; cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan (Armenia), winner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition, Merited Performer of the Republic of Armenia; Sergey Khachatryan (Armenia), winner of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Merited Performer of the Republic of Armenia; violinist Haik Kazazyan (Russia), winner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition, and many others.
The Festival’s programme featured works by famous Armenian, Maltese and other European composers.