18 Armenian chamber music CDs released with VivaCell-MTS support

The preservation of the Armenian academic music for coming generations has been at the center of “Ars Lunga” duo and VivaCell-MTS attention since 2011.

The cooperating sides have initiated and implemented an unprecedented project: in the course of five years 18 CDs have been released presenting works of 80 Armenian composers written for piano duo and trio.

This anthology encompasses a wide range of traditions of Armenian academic music from the beginning of the 20th century till now. The collections feature not only renowned and popular musicians but also young composers from Armenia and the Diaspora, which are not widely known to the public. Some of the works have been performed and recorded for the first time.
 
“These days we are witnessing the somewhat regress of the popularity of the academic and classical music. That is partly because the digital age paces up our lives and gives us tools to consume culture without giving an additional effort or time. Yet the true enduring values, such as the high art, including music, want time and contemplation to be properly appreciated and cherished. And that is exactly the reason why we need to defend its boundaries, keeping its high quality,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.
 
The project implemented owing to the joint efforts of the cooperating sides is aimed at preserving the treasures of the Armenian performing arts school for coming generations. The project also helped to reveal new names among Armenian composers and compile classical music works which have been long forgotten. Since 2011 VivaCell-MTS has allocated AMD 16 mln for the implementation of the project.
 
Appreciating the results of the fruitful cooperation with “Ars Lunga” duo, Ralph Yirikian has awarded the coauthors of the project cellist Aram Talalyan and pianist Julietta Vardanyan with the gold medal issued on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of VivaCell-MTS.
 
The duo has won the hearts of the music loving public in Armenia and abroad. This year “Ars Lunga” is invited to Tbilisi to participate in the concert dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the renowned Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze. In the near future the duo will give a concert under the theme “Komitas Vardapet and Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Reflections of Armenian and Georgian Composers to Folklore”.