Melikyan Concert at Fresno State

Elina Karapetyan

Staff Writer

The Fresno State Concert Hall was filled with excited chatter and buzz as the audience waited to listen to the talented and accomplished pianist Sofya Melikyan on Friday, October 14. For this special performance, the Armenian Studies Program cooperated with the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert Series to bring a memorable night to classical music enthusiasts.

“It has been a pleasure to continue the cooperation that we have had with Keyboard Concert Series Director Andreas Werz to bring outstanding Armenian talent to Fresno State every semester,” said Armenian Studies Program Director Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian

Armenia-born artist Melikyan has made a name for herself by performing in some of the world’s most exclusive venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona, and Salle Cortot in Paris. She has extensively toured throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia, and performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Melikyan’s enriching performances have also been broadcast on television and radio in Armenia, Spain, France, and in the United States.

In addition to her extensive list of accomplishments, Melikyan has been recognized in the New England International Chamber Music Competition in Boston and the New York Artists International Competition.

During the first half of her concert, Melikyan performed Goyescas, Op. 11 by Spanish composer Enrique Granados. This particular piano suite, known also as The Gallants in Love, is remarkably sophisticated and exceptionally difficult to perform, demanding both delicate dexterity and great intensity. Melikyan seemed to be in the moment, embodying the music in her performance. She was both passionate and emotional, giving her audience the most authentic experience by masterfully transitioning from intricate pieces to hauntingly powerful ones. She performed six pieces from the series.

In the second half of the concert, Melikyan performed pieces by internationally renowned composers including Lowell Liebermann, Arno Babadjanian, and Franz Liszt. She opened with Liebermann’s soft and elegant Nocturne No. 5, Op. 55 and later shifted to Babadjanian’s fast paced and demanding “Poem.” Melikyan’s talent was especially highlighted during this piece as she brilliantly mastered the composition. The last four pieces that she performed were by the prolific 19th-century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.

After the concert, members of the audience were invited to a lovely reception in the foyer, prepared by members of the Armenian community. Discussions of the concert began and people characterized the music as “captivatingly beautiful,” and “enchanting.”

Melikyan is not just a musician, but also a storyteller. She continues to inspire others with her talent and contagious passion for music.