Concert by Musical Armenia at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall

CONCERT BY MUSICAL ARMENIA

Armenian News Network / Armenian News

By Sahan Arzruni

NEW YORK, NY – It was a superb afternoon of music-making. Edvard Pogossian, cello; Cara Pogossian, viola; and Vatche Jambazian, piano, presented a laudable program on Sunday, at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. The three performers, all in their twenties, continue their music studies at major institutions.

Edvard Pogossian is a high caliber cellist. His elegant musicianship was apparent from the opening pages of the Beethoven Sonata. His tone is lean yet distinguished, introverted yet well-balanced. In the Brahms Trio, Mr. Pogossian blended beautifully with the other performers, exuding warmth and lyricism. In Mirzoyan’s Sonata – he performed the second movement only – he demonstrated poignancy and informed irony.

Pianist Vatche Jambazian knows his way around the keyboard. He has a broad palette, creating tones of varying hues. His dynamic range is colossal, but when his enthusiasm takes over, on occasion he produces a booming sound disruptive to the musical line. Mr. Jambazian is an incisive musician. He listens carefully to his musical partners: he leads, at times; and at others, he follows.

Cara Pogossian was wonderful in Mansurian’s “Hayren.” She played with haunting beauty and intensity. Although the Bach Suite for solo viola – the first piece on the program –

was tentative and musically disjointed, Ms. Pogossian contributed mightily to the Brahms Trio, enhancing the music in significant ways. Her tone was vigorous and resonant.

The three gifted participants also performed arrangements of songs by Komitas and Spendiaryan. The concert was the 36th in the annual Musical Armenia series presented by the Ladies Guild of the Eastern Prelacy.

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Master pianist Sahan Arzruni enjoys an international career, and is also known as a composer, ethnomusicologist, producer, teacher, lecturer, writer, recording artist and broadcast personality.