A concert dedicated to Armenian composers - 150th birth anniversary of Alexander Spendiaryan and 100th birth anniversary of Arno Babajanyan
On October 16, 2021 a Jubilee concert and an exhibition dedicated to Armenian composers - 150th birth anniversary of Alexander Spendiaryan and 100th birth anniversary of Arno Babajanyan took place in the St. Cuthbert’s Church, Kensington Royal, London. The event was organized by the Klingen Choir and Cultural Association, with the efforts of its artistic director and conductor Sipan Olah, under the auspices of the Embassy of the RA in the UK. Among the attendees were his Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the UK Mr. Varujan Nersesyan and the Embassy staff, Parish priest of Anglican Church, Reverend father of St. Cuthbert’s Church Paul Begot, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the United Kingdom, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, members of the House of Lords, conductor of the London symphony orchestra Vardan Altunian, the staff of the Armenian Community Council of the UK, chairmen of several Armenian organizations in the UK, musicians of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music in London. The congratulation address of the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of RA Ara Kzmalyan was presented during the event.
The participants of the concert were internationally acclaimed musicians: pianists Yulia Chaplina (Russia), Stavros Dritsas (Greece), Maria Palazian (Lebanon-England), vocal soloists, soprano Andriana Yordanova (Malta), mezzo-soprano Helen Rotchel (England), soprano Hayarpi Yeghikyan (Armenia-England), violinist Ani Badikyan (England-Armenia) and Klingen Choir and Chamber orchestra. The artistic director and conductor is Sipan Olah, who took part as a tenor soloist and pianist as well. By the way, the Klingen Chamber orchestra was officially founded during this concert: it was the first public performance of this orchestra. Many favorite compositions of Spendiaryan and Babajanyan were performed.
By the way, the symphonic composition "Yerevan Etudes" of Spendiaryan was premiered in UK with concert performance, arranged for chamber orchestra by Sipan Olah.
The series of paintings by renowned UK-Armenian painters Leonie Pilart [French] and Anna Virabyan, created and dedicated to Alexander Spendiaryan’s and Arno Babajanyan’s musical heritage were represented during the event.