World Classical Music

World Classical Music

The show presents the masterpieces of classics in performance of distinguished musicians, as well as provides comprehensive information about the lives and works of composers and performers, their role and influence on further development of classical music.

 

16/07/2024

"Night Song" by Komitas Wispers "Peace Be to All"

The main theme of this episode is Komitas's “Night Song” based on Goethe's lyrics. The host of the program analyses the song, presenting it within the context of Komitas's works and drawing parallels with Franz Liszt's and Franz Schubert's songs of the same name. He also discusses the cultural harmonization between the East and the West, and other issues.

World Classical Music
Under the Trend of Baroque Music
09/07/2024

Under the Trend of Baroque Music

The episode presents the “revival” of the music of the Baroque era in the 20th century, the use of the authentic musical instruments and performing style of that era, as well as the study and propagation of the “authentic performance.”

World Classical Music
Khoren Palyan
11/06/2024

Khoren Palyan

The episode is dedicated to the memory of Khoren Palyan, a well-known performer and expert in Armenian church music. The author of the program presents the mission of the famous singer—the promotion of sacred as well as national-patriotic songs, starting from the Soviet time and ending with the end of his earthly life. Palyan's joint concerts with Lusine Zakaryan and organist Vahagn Stamboltsyan have greatly contributed to the Christian education of generations and expanded Armenia's international reputation.

 

World Classical Music
From Heart to Heart
28/05/2024

From Heart to Heart

The episode is dedicated to the relationship between fathers and sons in the field of music pedagogy and in the art of directing the younger generation to the ՞Kingdom՞ of music. Great teachers of different times and their pupils are discussed, starting from Bach and his children, to L. Auer, H. Nalbandyan, N. Zverev, I. Galamyan, P. Stolyarsky and others. Music pieces for children by Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, Komitas, Aram Khachaturian and others are also mentioned.

World Classical Music
He Was Applauded by Avetik Isahakyan
14/05/2024

He Was Applauded by Avetik Isahakyan

The episode is dedicated to the Czech virtuoso violinist and composer Jan Kubelik (1880-1940). Contemporaries called him «New Paganini», «Liszt of the violin». He was a great patriot and held high the dignity of a musician: he refused the noble title and order offered by the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, but accepted with pleasure the portrait of Paganini and a bunch of his hair presented by his son.

World Classical Music
Alfred Schnittke, Concert Based on the Words of Narekatsi
23/04/2024

Alfred Schnittke, Concert Based on the Words of Narekatsi

The episode is dedicated to the choral concert by Schnittke written on the basis of Narekatsi՛s «Book of Lamentation» According to the composer, «During the creation of the concert, Narekatsi՛s spirit hovered in my room… my pen was moved by Narekatsi».

World Classical Music
Georg Philipp Telemann
16/04/2024

Georg Philipp Telemann

The episode is dedicated to the life and work of George Telemann, a German composer and kapellmeister of the 17th-18th centuries. He was considered an “enlightener” of music: he was the organizer of the first secular concerts and the founder of the first “musical societies.” His rich art spans all genres of his time.

World Classical Music
Music and Religion (Igor Stravinsky) (Part II)
09/04/2024

Music and Religion (Igor Stravinsky) (Part II)

The second part of this episode presents the translation of one of the chapters of Igor Stravinsky's book “Dialogues,” “Music and Religion,” in which the composer, in response to Robert Craft, expounds his philosophy of sacred music.

World Classical Music
Music and Religion (Igor Stravinsky) (Part I)
02/04/2024

Music and Religion (Igor Stravinsky) (Part I)

The first part of this episode illustrates the crucial role of religion and faith in music, from the Psalms of David to Stravinsky and Schnittke. It also presents masterpieces of sacred music by Bach, Brahms, and Komitas.

World Classical Music
Helmut Walcha
26/03/2024

Helmut Walcha

Famous German organist Helmut Walcha's life was a victory of spirit over matter. Before losing his vision, he would learn Bach's works by heart, keeping them in his memory. In this way, Walcha tried to keep the setting sun. This broadcast is about Walcha's life.

World Classical Music
Heinrich Schütz, Simphoniae Sacrae
19/03/2024

Heinrich Schütz, Simphoniae Sacrae

This episode is dedicated to Heinrich Schütz (16th c. - 17th c.), the founder of German opera, ballet and oratorio, and analyzes one of his Simphoniae Sacrae that is based on the words of Christ:
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt, 11:28).

World Classical Music
Tagh Singing
12/03/2024

Tagh Singing

This episode is dedicated to medieval Armenian musical and poetic art. The taghs "Achkn Tsov i Tsov" by Grigor Narekatsi and "Parergutyun" by Harutyun Alamdaryan as well as the semantics and harmony of their lyrics and melodies are analyzed. Taghs are performed by Alexander Kosemyan, the violist of the Komitas Quartet.

World Classical Music
Monody, Polyphony and Sacred Music (Part II)
20/02/2024

Monody, Polyphony and Sacred Music (Part II)

In the second part of this episode, its author compares the possibilities of monody and polyphony, and based on various sources and his own observations, confirms the fact that polyphonic music is able to more comprehensively express the inner world of humans and their relationship with society, nature, and the Creator.

World Classical Music
Monody, Polyphony and Sacred Music (Part I)
06/02/2024

Monody, Polyphony and Sacred Music (Part I)

The first part of this episode presents the historical path taken by monodic music from its origin up to polyphony and homophony. The crucial role of the Church in this process is also emphasized․

World Classical Music
Violinist Michael Rabin (1936-1972)
30/01/2024

Violinist Michael Rabin (1936-1972)

"An exceptional, inexhaustible talent"—this is how Michael Rabin was described by his teacher Ivan Galamian. The host of the program tells about prodigy Michael's life and activity, presents the violinist's achievements, and the originality of his art, the brilliant manifestation of which is the Tchaikovsky concert that sounds in this episode.

World Classical Music
Nikolay Madoyan's
23/01/2024

Nikolay Madoyan's "Bachiana"

This episode presents Bach's Partita No. 2 from violinist Nikolay Madoyan's "marathonian" solo concert, where he performed all of Bach's solo sonatas and partitas. This concert was just one of the parts in Madoyan's concert tour. Before that, he had performed all famous pieces of Armenian composers, all 10 sonatas by Beethoven, etc.

World Classical Music
Two Songs — Mozart's
02/01/2024

Two Songs — Mozart's "Violet" and Schubert's "Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel"

The first part of this issue is dedicated to the firstborn of classical romance, Mozart's song "Violet," and the second part presents Schubert's song "Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel." Both songs are based on Goethe's lyrics. If "Violet" is a dramatic scene, "Gretchen" is a tragic one. Both songs are innovative and dominated by purely musical laws and intermediate development, which is clearly expressed in the accompaniment. Both songs predetermined the further development of this genre.

World Classical Music
Johannes Brahms
26/12/2023

Johannes Brahms

The episode is dedicated to the life and creative path of the German composer of the XIX century Johannes Brahms. In his works, the composer summed up the achievements of Western European music during the 500 years of its development.

World Classical Music
Stepan Lusikyan, Golgotha (Part II)
12/12/2023

Stepan Lusikyan, Golgotha (Part II)

The second part of the episode continues presenting the analysis of the form and content of the concert, revealing its influences and symbols, and deciphering their meaning. The episode ends with a recording of the author's performance of the concert with the Orchestra of Halle Opera House (conductor Roland Kluttig).

World Classical Music
Stepan Lusikyan, Golgotha (Part I)
05/12/2023

Stepan Lusikyan, Golgotha (Part I)

The Piano Concerto “Golgotha” is the “swan song” of the composer Stepan Lusikyan and, according to Svetlana Navasardyan, “the golden rose that he put on the pedestal of music.” The first part of this episode presents the musical field where this “golden rose” opened.

World Classical Music