- Ilona Oltuski
MANA CONTEMPORARY: On-stage interview with pianist/composer Karén Hakobyan
I will have the great pleasure to conduct an on-stage interview with pianist/composer Karén Hakobyan, circling around "The Art of the Etude"
Saturday, May 4th Reception at 6.30PM – 7.00PM Concert at 7.00PM – 8.30PM at MANA Contemporary ( 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306) Venture out to the beautiful new concert space at Mana Contemporary, where I will interview pianist/composer Karén Hakobyan after his concert performance ‘Art of the Etude,’ with works of the medium ranging from Chopin, Liszt, Gershwin/Wild, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, to premiers by Manookian, Drozdoff, and Hakobyan.
The often times overlooked finesse – and complex difficulties of the Etude, are marked by its re-occurrence as a medium, by its many authors.
Hakobyan will explore some shape shifting varieties of the ‘study piece,’ pushing the artistic and technical boundaries of piano performance.
PROGRAM
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Études Op. 25 No. 1, Op. 10 No. 3, Op. 10 No. 4
Karen Hakobyan (1985-)
Two Concert Etudes “Basso Ostinato” Op. 14 NJ Premiere
Earl Wild/Gershwin (1915-2010)
Virtuoso Études No. 4 “Embraceable You” and No. 1 Fascinating Rhythm”
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Transcendental Étude No. 10 in F Minor
Intermission
Jeff Manookian (1960-)
Concert Étude No. 1 Vivacissimo NJ Premiere
Aram Khatchaturian (1903-1978)
Toccata
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Études-Tableaux Op. 33 No 5, 4, 7 & 8
Vladimir Drozdoff (1882-1960)
Etude Tableau (2:30) NJ Premiere
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
Études in F Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 2 and in D Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 12
RECEPTION | 6:30-7:00
CONCERT | 7:30-9:00
Described as “a musician of abundant gifts and bountiful ideas” by New York Concert Review, and “an immensely talented and dynamic performer” by Deseret Morning News, Armenian-American pianist and composer Karén Hakobyan has emerged as a versatile force on the international musical scene. Since his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 17, he has performed in major concert halls in Armenia, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, France, Japan and the United States. He is a top prizewinner of multiple international piano and composition competitions and holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, and the University of Utah. Hakobyan has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras across several continents. His performances have been broadcasted on WQXR New York’s Classical Radio Station, WMFT Chicago’s Classical Radio Station, Argentine National Radio, Monterrey’s (Mexico) Op. 102 Radio Station, Armenian National Radio, Al Jazeera international network and NYC live channel. He is the Founder, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Pegasus: The Orchestra based in New York.
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