Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
The National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, under the direction of maestro Aram Gharabekian, performed in concert on Thursday, August 28, as part of the festivities celebrating the 100th birthday of author William Saroyan. The concert featured works by Aram Khachaturian, Komitas, Alan Hovhaness, and Johannes Brahms, among others.
The National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA) was formed in 1997 under the direction of Gharabekian. All of the twenty-five members of the Orchestra are graduates of the Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan. The NCOA has toured extensively, throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. This tour was their fifth to the United States, and included stops in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Aram Gharabekian has been a force while guest conducting in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the United States. He graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, and continued his studies in Europe at Mainz University, Germany. He won praise for his innovative programming while Music Director and Conductor of the Boston SinfoNova Orchestra, 1983-1991.
Mezzo-soprano Edna Garabedian performed several works. Garabedian is a native Fresnan and an acclaimed performer, who has sung in concerts all over the world. She is the artistic director of the California Opera, founded in May 2000.
Guest vocalist Rhonda Grove sang several pieces that had a connection to Saroyan, including “The Missouri Waltz, a piece from Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life. She also sang the famous Saroyan/Bagdasarian “Come on-a My House.” Grove currently resides in Fresno where she is a soloist who performs in a variety of venues.
Composer and radio producer Charles Amirkhanian read several excerpts from Saroyan’s works. Amirkhanian was born in Fresno and is widely recognized for his live and taped works utilizing speech elements in rhythmic patterns resembling percussion music. He has been Music Director of KPFA Radio in Berkeley and since 1997 has been Executive and Artistic Director of Other Minds, a San Francisco based new music organization.
The Fresno Choral Artists accompanied the National Chamber Orchestra in several pieces.
The concert celebrated Saroyan’s birthday in Fresno’s William Saroyan Theatre, which has recently undergone renovations that have resulted in large murals of Saroyan and Saroyan quotes decorating the walls.
The Saroyan Centennial Concert was organized by the William Saroyan Centennial Committee.