Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Evelyn K. Demirchian
Staff Writer
Twenty-year-old piano prodigy Nareh Arghamanyan graced a packed auditorium on September 18th at the Fresno State Concert Hall. Arghamanyan’s electrifying performance was at once elegant, moving, and worthy of the international praise she has received as one of the youngest professional concert pianists. Playing a two-hour set, Arghamanyan exuded energy with her performance, not often seen in classical piano.
Beginning her set with Mendelssohn’s Variations sérieuses, Op. 54, Arghamanyan played with a masterful touch, showing off her skills taking on Schuman’s Carnaval, a lively rendition of Op. 9, Tchaikovsky’s Concert Suite from “The Nutcracker” and finally a beautiful take on Rachmaninoff and his Sonata in B-flat Minor, Op. 36. The concert was part of the Philip Lorenz Keyboard concert Series at Fresno State and co-sponsored with the Armenian Studies Program.
Arghamanyan’s concert elicited a cheerful round of applause from the audience and delighted the many that came out that night to see her. The vigor and energy that pours out from her performance ignited excitement in those who were witness to her masterful command of the keyboard. Coming out onto the stage one wouldn’t suspect that this young artist would employ such dynamism and take charge of such legendary composers as Tchaikovsky or Mendelssohn. Yet as young as she is, she certainly lives up to her hype and well beyond, solidifying her as an important artist to watch.
Those who have never heard of Nareh Arghamanyan would be shocked to realize that she has gained more accolades in her short twenty years than many do in their entire lifetimes. Arghamanyan began her piano studies at age 5, practicing long hours before entering the Tchaikovsky Music School for Talented Children in Yerevan at the age of 8, studying with Alexander Gurgenov and Armen Babakhanian. At the age of 15, she became the youngest student to be admitted into the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria and studied under Heinz Medjimorec until her graduation in 2008 with highest honors.
In 2008, Arghamanyan won top prize in the Montreal International Music Competition where she also received the Audience Choice Award. In 2007 she won First Prize at the Piano Campus International Competition in Pontoise, France. Arghamanyan will make her New York City debut this fall at the Frick Collection. Her first album, featuring the works of Liszt and Rachmaninoff, was released this last May to great acclaim under the Analekta label. She is currently finishing her master’s degree and residing with her family in Vienna.