Armenia-Turkey perspectives
Tribute to Komitas
◇ 29 January 2022
Echoing their mission of intercultural dialogue, the Boghossian Foundation and Plateforme 50 are pleased to bring together four Armenian and Turkish musicians for a tribute concert honouring the Armenian composer and musicologist Komitas.
Driven by the desire to fuse in the world Komitas, the musicians Ardashes Agoshian, Natali Boghossian, Aykut Dursen, and Vardan Hovanissian put their talents at the service of the great composer’s legacy. A visionary musicologist, Komitas recorded 350 Kurdish, 175 Turkish, and nearly 700 Armenian songs throughout his career. The quartet takes us into this heritage repertoire using a double bass, a theorbo, a doudouk and a mezzo-soprano voice as instruments.
Ardashes Agoshian on theorbo / Natali Boghossian mezzo-soprano
Double bassist, composer, conductor, choirmaster and academician Ardashes Agoshian is known for his compositions and arrangements, of which there are well over a hundred. Ardashes Agoshian holds a degree in ancient music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and a master’s degree and doctorate in double bass from the State Conservatory of Istanbul University. Together with Natali Boghossian, he founded the CorIstanbul Chamber Choir, the first independent Armenian chamber choir in Istanbul.
Natali Boghossian is a mezzo-soprano who draws on her intercultural and literary background in search of new themes and repertoires for her concerts. Currently under the vocal and artistic tutelage of the soprano Elena Vassilieva, Natali Boghossian made her debut in Paris as part of the International Dmitri Shostakovich Association. She regularly gives recitals in the Netherlands and abroad with pianist Hans van Beelen.
The multi-talented double bass player Aykut Dursen studied with Franco Petracchi, Heinrich Schneikart, Herbert Menhart, and Roland Lafosse. He graduated with distinction from the Hacettepe University Conservatory in Ankara, combining German and French bowing techniques, which enabled him to obtain two further diplomas from the Institut François Rabbath in Paris. He is a member of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra, in which was second soloist from 1992 until 2011 when he became first soloist.
Vardan Hovanissian is a musician who graduated from the Armenian Conservatory and was introduced to the doudouk by his teacher Khatchik Khachatryan. The doudouk, which is his main instrument, is an Armenian double-reed instrument closely linked to the history of his native country. It is one of the oldest instruments of its kind and is included in UNESCO’s list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Rooted in traditional Armenian music, Vardan Hovanissian also creates links with the music of neighbouring territories, as well as with other European folk and jazz influences.
Platform 50 works to create and facilitate intercultural encounters and dialogue between communities, in particular the Armenian and Turkish communities in Belgium. The initiative is financially supported by Cocof FIPI and Cocof Culture in the framework of the Culture Plan.
Special thanks
The Boghossian Boghossian Foundation and Plateforme 50 thank the Cabinet of the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Rudi Vervoort, and the French Community Commission, COCOF, for their support in the organisation of this concert.
