The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO)
The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) is an orchestra based in Yerevan, Armenia. It has always been considered as one of the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union.
Established 93 years ago by Arshak Adamian and Alexander Spendiaryan it is the national center of professional orchestral music in Armenia. Over the years, conductors A. Adamyan , A. Spendiaryan , S. Charekyan , G. Budaghyan , K. Saradjian , M. Maluntsyan , O. Durian, M. Terian , R. Vartanian , A. Katanyan , D . Khandjian , V. Gergiev, V. Papian, M. Avetisyan , and L. Tjeknavorian directed the orchestra. In October 2000 Eduard Topchjan was appointed the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO.
The ANPO performs concerts at its residence – the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, one of the architectural pearls of Yerevan designed by Alexander Tamanian – and hosts an audience of 1300 seats.
Being led to the new millennium by Maestro Eduard Topchjan the ANPO is committed to promoting cultural, musical awareness in local audiences, regularly performing classical and operatic music in addition to national and contemporary music.
Since its foundation, the orchestra has performed most of the classical repertoire. Many of the world’s leading artists, such as David Oistrach , Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels , Renato Bruson , Steven Isserlis , Misha Mayski , Sergei Nakariakov , Boris Berezovski , Natalia Gutman , Giuseppe Giacomini, Isabelle Faust, Julia Fischer, Pinchas Zukerman, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet , Placido Domingo and many others, as well as already established and emerging Armenian musicians have appeared with this orchestra.
The ANPO features the works of Armenian and international composers and is committed to supporting the performance of new orchestral works in the programs interesting not only for regular visitors, connoisseurs, but also for tourists and young people. Alexander Melik-Pashayev , Willy Ferrero and Valery Gergiev conducted the ANPO, the latter holding the position of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for five years. Gia Kancheli , Sofya Gubaidullina and Rodion Shchedrin closely cooperated with the ANPO. Aram Khachaturian, Dmitry Kabalevsky , Krzysztof Penderecki and other composers conducted their works with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
The ANPO serves as Ambassador of Armenian music worldwide and tours regularly. Famous Armenian soloists appear with the ANPO, such as Sergei Babayan, Narek Hakhnazaryan , Sergey Khachatryan , Isabel Bayrakdarian, Kim Kashkashian and many others. Since 1989 the ANPO has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lebanon, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Greece, Iran, Cyprus, Turkey, Russia, and UAE. The recent tours were to Japan in 2008 with 15 concerts; Germany, Slovakia in 2010. The scheduled tours in 2014 and 2015 to Italy (4 prestigious festivals in Rimini, Citta di Castello, Merano and Ravello ), Germany, Poland, USA, Mexico and Scandinavian countries were a great success. On July 12, 2016 there was a very prestigious concert at the Mariinsky Theatre St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra hosts the annual Yerevan International Music Festival, held in autumn. The 11 th edition is due in 2017. Internationally acclaimed soloists participate in the festival, appearing in concerts and giving master-classes to young Armenian musicians. Eduard Topchjan and Alexander Chaushian are Artistic Directors of the festival held under the patronage of the spouse of the President of RA Mrs. Rita Sargsyan .
More than 40 CDs have been released with the orchestra’s recordings. The most recent ones - "Armenian Rhapsody" was released in 2011 by BIS Records, Sweden and Mozart Piano Concerti and Overtures by Oehms Classics, Germany in 2014. They were highly acclaimed by international reviewers. In 2017 a special edition CD “Mozart- Komitas -Khachaturian” was released in the United States through Armenia Fund USA (Eastern Region Affiliate), with 10.000 copies print-run.
Music by Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babadjanyan , Edvard Mirzoyan , Alexander Arutiunian , Avet Terteryan and many other prominent Armenian composers is best performed by the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra featuring famous Armenian and international soloists.
Many prominent international specialists mention the constantly growing performing level of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra considering its nuanced sound, impressive string section and charismatic Artistic Director.
Principal players of the ANPO as of 2017:
- Karmen Tosunyan , orchestra concertmaster
- Aram Asatryan , principal first violin
- Anahit Aslanyan , principal second violin
- Aida Nalbandyan , principal viola
- Armen Mesropyan , principal cello
- Karen Khachatryan , principal bass
- Tigran Gevorgyan , principal flute
- Ashot Galstyan , principal oboe
- Viacheslav Manucharyan , principal clarinet
- Andranik Kocharyan , principal basson
- Meruzhan Ter - Minasyan , principal horn
- Shahen Gevorgyan , principal trumpet
- Aristakes Martirosyan , principal trombone
- Vagharshak Pepanyan , tuba
- Harutyun Mkrtchyan , percussion
- Zhanna Hovhannisyan , harp