Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Pateel Mekhitarian
Editor
The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State was pleased to welcome pianist Vahan Mardirossian and cellist Alexander Chaushian to perform in a duet concert at 8:00PM on Friday, February 26. This special presentation was co-sponsored by the Keyboard Concert Series and held in the Concert Hall at Fresno State. The large turnout on a rainy evening was an indication of how popular and well-respected the two artists are.
The duet performance by Mardirossian and Chaushian was a wonderful event. The two musicians had been childhood friends in Armenia, and renewed their friendship after many years. These two talented artists presented a beautiful and peaceful performance, which was appreciated by the audience. Their first piece was Alexander Borodin’s Sonata in B Minor, rich in harmonies and an excellent vehicle for Chaushian to exhibit his skill on the cello. They continued the evening with a Sonata in D Minor Op. 40, by Dmitri Shostakovich. The energetic Sonata is one of his earlier works and features unusual musical twists.
The close relationship between the artists could be seen in the way that they communicated with each other, sometimes with a simple glance or movement of the eye. After the intermission they concluded their performance with a powerful musical piece, Sonata in A Major, by César Franck. Chaushian brought passion to his performance, capturing the audience with his beautifully played passages. Keyboard Concert Director Andreas Werz called the concert “a fantastic success.” He said the audience response was great and that now many people were asking that more chamber music be schedule in future seasons.
Vahan Mardirossian was born in Yerevan, Armenia and moved to France in 2003, where he currently lives. He has studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Jacques Rouvier and graduated with honorable distinction after being awarded the First Prize as a pianist. He was also awarded the Chamber Music Prize and the Conservatoire’s highest diploma, which allowed him to continue on to postgraduate studies.
Mardirossian’s solo recordings include music by Bach, Handel, Schubert, and Brahms. His recordings broadcast regularly in Europe and America. At the young age of 15, Mardirossian was appointed Principal Conductor and Musical Director of the Youth Chamber Orchestra by the Youth Culture Center of Armenia. Starting in September 2010, Vahan Mardirossian will serve as the Principal Conductor of the Caen Orchestra of France.
Alexander Chaushian is considered to be one of the finest cellists of the younger generation. Having performed throughout the world as a soloist, he has taken part in numerous, prestigious performances. Born to a family of musicians, he started playing the cello at the young age of seven. He began his musical studies with his grandfathers, Alexander Chaushian Sr. and Zare Sarkisian. He later continued his education and pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with the late Boris Pergamenschikow and later with Davis Geringas. He completed his studies by graduating with honorable distinction in 2005.
This talented cellist has made special appearances at the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and at the Brucknerhaus in Linz, as well as the London Mozart Player and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. Chaushian has given recitals across the world. He is currently busy organizing a concerto project with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.