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Violinist Strives To Bring Armenian
Music To Mainstream
By Suzy Cazandjian
 When
violinist Movses Pogossian was appointed artistic director
of the newly formed Los Angeles-based Dilijan Chamber Music
Series in 2005, he faced a formidable challenge: bringing
Armenian music performed by high caliber musicians to the
mainstream. Pogossian has successfully embarked on this path
with the recent completion of Dilijan’s six-concert
inaugural season. By presenting Armenian works side-by-side
with Western repertoire performed by acclaimed musicians at
Zipper Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the series has attracted
an Armenian as well as non-Armenian audience.
“I just love directing this series; it is a wonderful thing
for Armenian music,” said Pogossian who was recently in
Detroit to be a guest on the Heritage of Armenian Culture
Radio. The feature on Pogossian will air on Sunday, May 21
at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at www.wnzk.com (to access
click on the link “Listen to WNZK” on the left-hand side of
the Web page) and on WNZK 680 AM in Detroit. The Dilijan
Chamber Music Series was founded by Lark Music Society
members under the leadership of conductor Vatsche Barsoumian.
Besides showcasing traditional pieces of Western classical
chamber music and Armenian chamber works performed by
acclaimed musicians, Dilijan also presents world premieres
of chamber music by contemporary Armenian composers. Works
by Edward Mirzoyan, Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness, Arno
Babajanian and Gomidas were presented this past season as
well as world premieres by Tigran Mansurian and Vache
Sharafyan.
Sharafyan received critical acclaim as a composer for Yo-Yo
Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. “We had so many positive comments
from our audience members about Sharafyan’s compositions;
they were moved by the emotional message of his music,” said
Pogossian.
Slated for next season are world premieres of newly
commissioned works by David Haladjian, Artur Avanesov and
Paolo Cavallone. Guest artists will include violist Kim
Kashkashian, violinists Ani Kavafian and Ida Levin, and
pianists Sarkis Baltaian and Norman Krieger.
Pogossian possesses an impressive array of accomplishments.
Since making his critically acclaimed American debut with
the Boston Pops performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
in 1990, Pogossian has embarked on a multi-dimensional
career. A native of Armenia, he studied at the Moscow
Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he completed his doctorate.
At the age of 19, Pogossian became the youngest ever first
prize winner of the Seventh All-USSR National Violin
Competition in 1985. He later went on to win prizes in the
1986 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow and the
1991 Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition in
Italy. He has performed with major orchestras around the
world including the Moscow Philharmonic, the Moscow Chamber
Orchestra and the State Philharmonic Orchestras of Estonia,
Georgia and Armenia.
In 1989, Pogossian received a fellowship at the Tanglewood
Music Festival in Massachusetts. He has performed chamber
music with members of the Tokyo, Kronos and Brentano String
Quartets. Additionally, he frequently collaborates with the
New Hampshire-based Apple Hill Chamber Players,
participating in Apple Hill’s “Playing for Peace” tours and
since 1992 returning annually to Apple Hill’s Summer Chamber
Music Festival and School where he is a faculty member.
Pogossian is currently visiting artist teacher at the State
University of New York-Buffalo and a member of the Baird
Piano Trio. He has previously served on the faculties of
Duquesne, Bowling Green and Wayne State Universities.
“I am very encouraged by our first season and by
world-famous musicians performing Armenian pieces and
telling me that this is great music. I want to spread our
music, not only to audiences, but to performers as well.
This will be the most effective way for us to broaden the
recognition of Armenian music,” said Pogossian.
The Dilijan Chamber Music Series is financed largely through
contributions.
For more information visit
http://dilijan.larkmusicalsociety.com. |
