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ARMENIAN CELLIST TO JOIN SSO IN CONCERT
Andrew McGinn
Springfield News Sun
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/entertainment/music/armenian-cellist-to-join-sso-in-concert-1348807.html
March 23 2012
Narek Hakhnazaryan won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in
Moscow in June
SPRINGFIELD - When the Springfield Symphony Orchestra booked the
winning cellist of the International Tchaikovsky Competition before
the competition had even been held, it was sort of like agreeing to
go on a blind date.
The SSO knew it could trust the Tchaikovsky Competition, but even your
best friend can misjudge someone's character every once in a while.
Luckily, the mystery cellist, Narek Hakhnazaryan, is turning out to
be Prince Charming.
The young Armenian, who took gold last June at the prestigious
competition in Moscow, will appear with the SSO at Kuss Auditorium
on March 31.
A true rising star, Hakhnazaryan has been asked by the Chicago Symphony
to substitute this spring for superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
"That speaks for itself right there," said Peter Stafford Wilson,
SSO conductor. "We knew that engaging the winner of the Tchaikovsky
would bring us a star soloist, but this proves it."
Originally, Wilson had wanted the guest cellist - whomever it might
have been - to perform Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme."
But, Hakhnazaryan will be performing Haydn's "Cello Concerto in D
Major" in Chicago, and asked if he could play it here as well.
"This would be an excellent dry run for him," Wilson said.
The maestro was more than happy to change the program at Hakhnazaryan's
request.
"We'll probably get a better performance of the Haydn out of him than
we would've the Tchaikovsky," Wilson explained. "Helping him out is
only going to pay us dividends."
And, as far as the piece goes, "I think we're trading up," Wilson said.
The program, which also features the world premiere of "The Great
Divide" by Cedarville University's Steven Winteregg, underwent one
other slight change as well.
Originally, Wilson had planned on performing Beethoven's second
symphony, but switched to the composer's fourth symphony.
The Haydn concerto and Beethoven's second are in the same key.
"I didn't want everybody dreaming in D major that night," Wilson said.
Andrew McGinn
Springfield News Sun
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/entertainment/music/armenian-cellist-to-join-sso-in-concert-1348807.html
March 23 2012
Narek Hakhnazaryan won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in
Moscow in June
SPRINGFIELD - When the Springfield Symphony Orchestra booked the
winning cellist of the International Tchaikovsky Competition before
the competition had even been held, it was sort of like agreeing to
go on a blind date.
The SSO knew it could trust the Tchaikovsky Competition, but even your
best friend can misjudge someone's character every once in a while.
Luckily, the mystery cellist, Narek Hakhnazaryan, is turning out to
be Prince Charming.
The young Armenian, who took gold last June at the prestigious
competition in Moscow, will appear with the SSO at Kuss Auditorium
on March 31.
A true rising star, Hakhnazaryan has been asked by the Chicago Symphony
to substitute this spring for superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
"That speaks for itself right there," said Peter Stafford Wilson,
SSO conductor. "We knew that engaging the winner of the Tchaikovsky
would bring us a star soloist, but this proves it."
Originally, Wilson had wanted the guest cellist - whomever it might
have been - to perform Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme."
But, Hakhnazaryan will be performing Haydn's "Cello Concerto in D
Major" in Chicago, and asked if he could play it here as well.
"This would be an excellent dry run for him," Wilson said.
The maestro was more than happy to change the program at Hakhnazaryan's
request.
"We'll probably get a better performance of the Haydn out of him than
we would've the Tchaikovsky," Wilson explained. "Helping him out is
only going to pay us dividends."
And, as far as the piece goes, "I think we're trading up," Wilson said.
The program, which also features the world premiere of "The Great
Divide" by Cedarville University's Steven Winteregg, underwent one
other slight change as well.
Originally, Wilson had planned on performing Beethoven's second
symphony, but switched to the composer's fourth symphony.
The Haydn concerto and Beethoven's second are in the same key.
"I didn't want everybody dreaming in D major that night," Wilson said.