Armenian State Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

Details

Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Sunday, 30 June 2024 09:12

Written by Jack Angstreich

At Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium on the night of Thursday, June 27th, I had the immense pleasure of attending an amazing concert exclusively devoted to the seldom performed but brilliant music of Aram Khachaturian, presented by the extraordinary musicians of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the sterling direction of Sergey Smbatyan. 

The evening began superbly with the revised version of the outstanding Triumphal Poem, an inventive, stirring work with an almost satirical interlude and a forceful conclusion. A remarkable soloist, Sergey Khachatryan, then entered the stage to admirably play the underrated Violin Concerto in D Minor from 1940. The initial movement—marked Allegro con fermezzo—is propulsive, with solemn, lyrical passages—it drew applause—while the Andante sostenuto movement that follows opens suspensefully and is song-like too, if in a more subdued manner. The Allegro vivace finale is exuberant but with quieter episodes, ending powerfully.

The second half of the event was even more memorable, starting with three wonderful selections from the popular ballet, Gayaneh, from 1942. (The Adagio from this score was used by director Stanley Kubrick in his 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.) The charming Dance of the Maidens preceded the mysterious and bewitching Lullaby and the lovely, waltz-like Aysheh’s Dance.

The program proper closed marvelously with five enthralling selections from another very famous ballet, Spartacus, from 1953. The spirited, delightful Introduction and Dance of the Nymphs was succeeded by the rhythmic, exhilarating Scene and Dance with Crotalums that finishes softly. The ensuing Variation of Aegina and Bacchanalia is exciting, and has a celebratory ethos. The enchanting, exquisite Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia builds in intensity but concludes gently and the Dance of Gaditanae and Victory of Spartacus is haunting and then triumphal. An enthusiastic ovation elicited three fabulous encores: first, the Waltz from the 1944 symphonic suite, Masquerade, from incidental music for a play by Mikhail Lermontov, and then, the indelible Sabre Dance and Lezghinka from Gayaneh.

• < Prev
• Next >