ARLINGTON, Mass. — Friends of Armenian Culture Society will host an afternoon lecture/concert on Sunday, May 16 at 4 p.m. at the Armenian Cultural Foundation. Renowned composer and pianist Artur Avanesov will present works by some of the most promising, young Armenian composers and perform select works. Among composers whose works will be presented are Vache Sharafyan, Artur Akshelyan, Aram Hovhannisyan, Vardan Harutyunyan and Artur Avanesov.
Avanesov was born in Moscow. He began his formal music studies in composition and piano at the Yerevan State Conservatory, graduating with a doctorate degree in 2005, and later joining the faculty of the conservatory as an assistant professor of composition. He is the composer of numerous chamber, piano and vocal works and has participated in several contemporary festivals, including the ISCM World Music Days in Switzerland.
Avanesov’s list of awards include the first prize at the Britten Chamber Composition in 2003 and the Sarian Vocal Composition Competition in 2004, both held in Armenia. As a pianist, his repertory spans from the late Renaissance to the contemporary. He has performed some 70 world premieres of piano works by composers from Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Finland and Portugal. In 2003 and 2004, Avanesov participated in the famed Lucerne Summer Music Festival and performed with an ensemble led by Pierre Boulez. Avanesov is also the co-founder of the AUS Contemporary Music Ensemble (formed in 2001), which performs works of emerging as well as established composers from Armenia and abroad.
As a musicologist, Avanesov is the co-editor of the Musical Armenia journal, in which he has published articles on the music of Stockhausen and several fellow Armenian composers of today.
Attendance for the May 16 event is free and open to the public. However, due to limited space, an e-mail reservation is encouraged to guarantee seating. Reservations can be made by writing to info@facsboston.org.