Malta International Music Festival

2021

Orchestral Romance at Uzbek Premiere

15 June - 11 July 2022

4
July
8pm
Orchestral Romance at Uzbek Premiere

National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

Alibek Kabdurakhmanov(Uzbekistan)

Nareh Arghamanyanpiano(Armenia)

Valletta
Mediterranean Conference Centre


Alibek Kabdurakhmanov

Born in 1984 in Tashkent. 

2002-2006 Graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with a degree in Percussion Instruments (Bachelor degree)

2006-2008 Graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with a degree in Percussion Instruments (Master degree)

2017-2019 Graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with a degree in Opera and Symphonic Conducting (Master degree)

Since 2005, an artist of the musical theater orchestra - studio at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan. 

Since 2007, accompanist of the percussion group of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan.

Since 2009, assistant conductor of contemporary music ensemble “Omnibus”

Since 2014, conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan 

Since 2018, the main conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

45th International Summer School of Contemporary Academic Music in Darmstadt (Germany, 2010) 

Prince Claus Foundation Annual Awards, Amsterdam (Netherlands, 2009) 

Tour of the cities of China 2009 

Omnibus Laboratorium I-VI (Uzbekistan, 2005-2010) 

Black Box I-VI (Uzbekistan, 2006-2010) 

The Stars of Tomorrow - a concert with the Radio Germany Symphony Orchestra in Munich (Germany, 2007)  

Participation in international festivals: 

International Contemporary Music Festival "Turbulence" (Germany, 2018) 

33 International festival "Moscow Autumn" Sessions of the Youth Orchestra of the World (JMWO) (Spain, 2007, 2009) 

International Festival “Musical Summer Evenings” in Kiev (Ukraine, 2006) 

International Festival "Euro-Orchestra" in Ponce (France, 2006) 

International festival “Drums of the World” in Tolyatti (Russia, 2005, 2006) 

International "Easter Festival" in Moscow (Russia, 2005) 

International festival "Moscow Meets Friends" (Russia, 2005) 

International festival "Ilkhom-XX" (Uzbekistan, 2001-2005)

Confession: 

Laureate of the Tasanno Prize in the Field of Culture (Uzbekistan, 2005, 2007) 

Grand Prix at the Shabyt International Competition (Astana, Kazakhstan, 2007) 

Special prize in the nomination "for best performance with an orchestra" of the International Competition "EMCY Art for music Prize" (Germany, 2006) 

Winner of the 2nd prize of the International Competition in Munich “EMCY Art for music Prize” (Germany, 2006) 

Winner of the Grand Prize of the International Competition "Shabyt" in Astana (Kazakhstan, 2004) 

Diploma winner of the 2nd International Competition named after Mikola Stasinevicha Warsaw (Poland, 2004)

Experience as a conductor: 

National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

State Academic Symphony Orchestra Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Musical theater orchestra - studio at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan

Ensemble of contemporary music “Omnibus”

Orchestra named “Kurmangazy” (Kazakhstan)

Youth symphony orchestra of Uzbekistan

Nareh Arghamanyan

Piano

Nareh Arghamanyan, a winner of more than 18 international competitions including the prestigious 2008 Montreal International Music Competition, is a Vienna -based Armenian- Austrian concert pianist. A Bösendorfer artist, Nareh is acclaimed for creating a unique intensity of dialogue between music and her audience, by immersing herself in the idea and becoming the vessel through which, the music speaks: with “elegance, humor, fiery imagination“, and a “unique sensual narrative tone”. Her “precise stylistic approach”, “dazzling technique” and “charismatic stage presence” have made headlines and have moved critics and audiences, conductors and orchestras alike: Musical America Magazine described her as “major, major, major talent…a potential superstar”. From Musikverein in Vienna to Lincoln Center in New York, Nareh dazzles her audiences. She has appeared in the last seasons at theWigmore Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Laieszhalle Hamburg, Herkulessaal Munich, Wiener Konzerthaus, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Gardner Museum Boston, Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Petronas Hall Kuala Lumpur, Osaka Concert Hall Japan, to name only a  few.

With more than 30 piano concertos in her repertoire, Nareh has performed with prestigious orchestras including Wiener Symphoniker, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, ORFRadio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, HR sinfonieorchester, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Rundfunk-Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra, OrchestrePhilharmonique de RTÉ, National Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Kyoto Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphonic Orchestras and many others. 

Highlights in 2021/2022 includes her appearances in Sweden with Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Bergische Symphonic Orchestra  and Dortmund Philharmonic in Germany, Lucerne Symphony in Switzerland, several recitals in France as well as orchestra tour in Russia appearing in Kaliningrad, Saratov, Kazan, Barnaul, Vologda, Novosibirsk, Voronezh, etc . She was also appointed as jury member in the famous Bolzano Busoni piano competition in Italy, Classic on Danube Festival in Vienna.

Nareh frequently gives recitals in major cities throughout Asia, Europe and North America. She is a regular guest in renowned festivals including Lucerne Festival, Colmar Festival, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Lanaudière Festival, Domaine Forget, Tanglewood, Marlboro, Singapore and Portland Festivals. Among other numerous awards, she has received the Franz Liszt, Georgy Cziffra, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli prizes as well as Rising Star, Herbert-von Karajan, Thyll-Dürr, Mozart Gesellschaft and Orpheum awards.

Nareh had the opportunity to work with many of the world’s esteemed conductors including Kent Nagano Sir Neville Marriner, Alain Altinoglu, James Gaffigan, Michael Francis, Christian Arming, John Axelrod, Otto Tausk,  Stefan Solyom, Kevin John Edusei, David Ken Masur, Carl St Clair, Michael Sanderling,  Kazuki Yamada, Jean-Marie Zeitouni and Christoph Poppen.

Following her successful debut solo album released in 2009 with the Canadian Analekta Label, Nareh in 2011 signed with Pentatone Records, releasing a CD of solo works by Rachmaninov to great critical acclaim. She was selected as “Artist of the Season” by Pentatone and partnered with the Rundfunk-Sinfonie Orchester Berlin and Alain Altinoglu to release recordings of all of Liszt’s piano-orchestral works as well as Prokofiev and Khachaturian Piano concerti to great acclaim. She also teamed up  in 2018 with the Munich Chamber Orchestra and Howard Griffiths to record the piano concerto by Franz Danzi – which was released by Sony Classical in 2018 to great acclaim. Her recent CD in 2021 includes solo piano works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Another CD with solo works by Vardapet Komitas will be released  by the end of 2022.

Her CDs achieved many awards, including “Recording of the Year”, “Best New Classical Album”, “Artist of the Year”, “Outstanding Choice”, and “Best upcoming Artist” , “Artist of the month by Apple Music”

At the age of six years, Nareh was hailed as a “Prodigy” and went on to win more than 18 international awards and prizes, including 1st Prizes at the 2007 Piano Campus International Competition in France, the 2005 Josef Dichler Piano Competition in Vienna, the 1997 Chopin piano competition. But her major breakthrough came at the age of 18, when she won the 1st prize and all special Prizes at the Montreal International Musical Competition in 2008, thus making a history as the youngest winner ever. Nareh studied with Alexander Gurgenov at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Yerevan and at the age of 15 became the youngest student to enroll in the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna in the class of Heinz Medjimorec. She continued her studies with Avedis Kouyoumdjian as well as with Arie Vardi in The Hanover University of Music and Drama.  From 2016-2018 Nareh has been appointed as the Artist-in-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels, under the supervision of Louis Lortie.

Nareh often improvises and enjoys transcribing famous orchestral and instrumental pieces by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Piazolla, Komitas, Khachaturian, Rachmaninov, Strauss, Tarrega and others.

She also is highly engaged on benevolent causes and regularly participates and performs for charity projects in France, Germany, Austria, Armenia and USA, including support for children suffering of leukemia in Armenia, assisting orphanages and disaster zone victims. Nareh has helped gather in excess of 200.000 Euros for benevolent causes.

Since 2016 Nareh has served as artistic director of “Austrian Piano Open” piano competition in Vienna,“Classic on Danube” International Music Festival in Vienna and “ Zartonk Summer Music Academy “ in Armenia.

National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan

The orchestra was founded in 1937. The first conductor of the orchestra was N. Gorchakov. In 1948, A. Kozlovsky took his place. In 1956-1963, the orchestra was directed by a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory Narimon Alimov, from 1963 to 1997 - People's Artist of Uzbekistan Zakhid Khaknazarov. The main task of the orchestra is to perform symphonic works by Uzbek composers. At the same time, the collective's repertoire also includes works by composers from other countries. It should be noted the special contribution of Alexey Kozlovsky, Mardon Nasimov, Nabi Khalilov, Kuvonch Usmonov and Zokhid Khaknazarov to the formation and creative activity of the orchestra.

In 1967 the orchestra toured in the republics of the former Soviet Union, in 1968 it won the competition for symphony orchestras of the Union republics.

In 1986, the National Symphony Orchestra was awarded the title of "Honored collective of the Republic of Uzbekistan".

In 1998, People's Artist of Uzbekistan Ismoil Jalilov was appointed artistic director of the orchestra, and composer Anvar Ergashev was appointed principal conductor.

In November 1998 the National Symphony Orchestra performed a concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin, in which US soloists D. Washington (baritone) and D. Fergunes (piano) took part. The concerts organized by the US Embassy in Uzbekistan have become an important event in the cultural life of Uzbekistan.

The collective collaborated with musical ensembles from UK, USA, France, Thailand.

The National Symphony Orchestra has 101 employees, 89 of them are musicians. Artistic director of the orchestra is People's Artist of Uzbekistan Ismoil Jalilov, conductor - Alibek Kabdurakhmanov (since 2018).

Programme

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