Music: "Cello is an instrument of love" – Denmark’s Jonathan Swensen after winning 14th Aram Khachaturian International Competition in Yerevan

ArmenPress, Armenia




"Cello is an instrument of love" - Denmark's Jonathan Swensen after
winning 14th Aram Khachaturian International Competition in Yerevan



YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. After Danish cellist Jonathan Swensen
was named winner of the 14th Aram Khachaturian International
Competition in Yerevan, Roza Grigoryan of ARMENPRESS had an exclusive
chance to talk with the 21-year-old musician. This is the Danish
cellist’s first international competition & win.

“TO be honest I am very tired. It was a very long week full of
numerous performances and lots of stress. But I am very thankful to
everybody, the Armenian people, Armenia, organizers of the
competition. I can say that I am very happy and at the same time
exhausted”, Swensen said.

The winner of the Khachaturian competition says the cello is an
instrument of love for him. “I love this instrument. I love how you
sit next to it, as if hugging it”, he said.

Speaking about his performance together with the State Symphony
Orchestra of Armenia, Swensen said conductor Sergei Smbatyan was
“wonderful”. “I was very happy to play with his orchestra”, he said.

Speaking about his Armenian counterparts, Swensen said that he has
listened to the performances of cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan. “I haven’t
met him, but he is a wonderful performer. I hope one day I will meet
him”, he said.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS