JES

Komitas Quartet in Takanawa

Komitas State String Quartet Concert with Takahiro Akiba

The 90-th Anniversary of KOMITAS QUARTET in Japan

The holy sounds from Armenia, which adopted Christianity earliest in the world.

The string quartet was named after “Father of Armenian music,” Komitas.

Program:

Part 1

Handel-Aslamazyan: Passacaglia

Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 (Piano: Takahiro Akiba http://takahiroakiba.com)

Part 2 Khachaturian: "Sabre Dance" From Gayane Khachaturian: “Waltz” From Masquerade

Edward Mirzoyan: String Quartet D-minor "Theme and Variations"

Komitas-Aslamazyan: From Armenian Miniatures

Date: 09 December 2014 (Tue)

Curtain rising at 19:00

Doors open at 18:30

End of the performance at 21:00

Ticket price: 2000 yen (all open seating)

Venue: Takanawa Civic Center/Takanawa Civic Hall (Minato City) 1-16-25 Takanawa, Minato Tokyo

Access: Both of Tokyo Metro Namboku line/Toei Subway Shirokane-Takanawa Station Exit No.1 going straight Directly connected to the Takanawa Civic Hall

Organizer: Armenian Embassy in Japan, Japan-Eurasia Society Japan-Armenian exchange center (Japan-Eurasia Society)

Co-operator: Armenian Ministry of Culture Supporter: Japan-Armenia Society, Japan-Armenia Friendship Society

Komitas State String Quartet

     In Soviet era, performed with Gilels, Rikhter, Rostropovich. Composer Hachaturyan called them “Gems of Armenian culture” Komitas Quartet is named after Armenian composer/researcher of Armenian folk music, Komitas Varapet(1869-1935). Serving as a priest of Armenian church, Komitas conducted chorus and collected more than 3000 folk songs including songs of labor and wedding in the villages of all Armenia. As he established modern music taking Armenian motives, he is called “Father of Armenian music”. Komitas Quartet is a string quartet founded in 1924 in Moscow by musicians from Armenia, headed by Sergei Aslamazyan. In Soviet era they are first admitted to go abroad for concerts and also came to Japan. Komitas Qusartet has performed with Richter, Rostropovich and Gilels. As a present members, this is the first time to Japan. Armenian composer Hachaturyan called them “Gems of Armenian musical culture” . As a state quartet, Komitas Quartet represent Armenian musicians. This time, Komitas Quartet performs pieces of Komitas with arrangement of the founder Aslamazyan, famous classic pieces and Piano Quintet with Japanese pianist Takahiro Akiba who especially studies Armenian music.

Members:

Eduard Tadevosyan (1 st Violin): Studied under Leonid Kogan. Now Professor and dean of Faculty of Orchestra of Komitas State Conservatory in Erevan, Armenia. Member of Komitas Quartet from 1976.

Syuzi Yeritsyan (2 nd Violin): Assistant teacher of Professor Artashes Mkrtchan. Member of Komitas Quartet from 2008.

Aleksandr Kosemyan (Viola): Studied under Hrachya Bogdanyan. Has been performed as concertmaster of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and as solist of Ganzel Enesemble. Now Professor of both Violin and Viola Department of Komitas State Conservatory. Member of Komitas Quartet form 1990.

Hasmik vardanyan (Cello): Studied at Komitas State Concervatory and performed as solist and concertmaster in Armenia and aboroad. 2 nd prize at Aram Hachaturyan International Competition (2010 in Armenia). Mewmber of Komitas Quartet from 2010. Takahiro Akiba(Piano): Graduated from Tokyo University of Arts Instrumental Department as the top student. Continues to study in doctor course. Graduated from Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. Winner of 2-nd Komitas International competition, 2013. Performs in Japan and abroad. 

Takahiro Akiba(Piano): Graduated from Tokyo University of Arts Instrumental Department as the top student. Continues to study in doctor course. Graduated from Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. Winner of 2-nd Komitas International competition, 2013. Performs in Japan and abroad.

All concerts of Japan Tour