JANABAR

 

JANABAR is a spellbinding solo cello touring project that serves as a deeply personal exploration of my ancestral roots, charting a profound musical map across centuries of Armenian and Middle Eastern cultural heritage. Meaning "journey" or "path" in Armenian, the program bridges the spiritual depth of 10th-century medieval chants by Grigor Naregatsi and the poetic romanticism of 18th-century troubadour Sayat-Nova with the visceral, modern voices of contemporary composers Mary Kouyoumdjian, Karen Ouzounian, and Layale Chaker. Through musical storytelling, themes of homeland, ancient lyricism, and cutting-edge contemporary solo cello techniques, JANABAR transforms the concert stage into an immersive experience of migration, memory, and artistic evolution.

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BELLE ÉPOQUE

This exquisite concert program bridges two golden ages of French elegance, weaving the intimate, ornate court music of the Baroque era directly into the lush, evocative tapestry of the Belle Époque. By pairing the deeply expressive viol and keyboard masterworks of Marin Marais and François Couperin with the impressionistic brilliance of Maurice Ravel and the romantic intensity of Ernest Chausson, the repertoire traces a rich lineage of French musical refinement. Elevated by the brilliant, long-overlooked voices of Mélanie Bonis and Cécile Chaminade, the performance resurrects the vibrant salon culture of Paris, offering a powerful exploration of nostalgia, innovation, and timeless emotional depth.

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ROOTS 

This program explores the profound connection between classical form and ancestral heritage. Through the Danish String Quartet’s Woodworks, traditional Nordic folk melodies are reimagined with vivid, rustic textures. Komitas’s Armenian folk songs channel the haunting, deeply spiritual voice of a resilient culture. Dvořák’s American String Quartet captures the longing for home while embracing the vibrant rhythms of a new land.

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RUSSIAN MASTERWORKS
A Russian masterworks chamber music program brings together the deeply emotional and expressive worlds of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Pairing Tchaikovsky’s lyrical intimacy—such as his expressive string writing—with Rachmaninoff’s rich, soaring melodies highlights the pinnacle of the Russian Romantic tradition. These intimate performances showcase the profound bond between mentor and protégé, with melodies full of dramatic tension, dark beauty, and extraordinary  .

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