BY ATINA HARTUNIAN
A celestial performance awaits Los Angeles, as the distinguished duo, soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and pianist/composer Serouj Kradjian, take the stage for their debut performance on Dec. 18.
With Isabel Bayrakdarian’s remarkable dramatic instincts paired with Serouj Kradjian’s fiery performance, it will be an unforgettable night of music. The husband and wife collaborators are known to have irresistible electricity flowing between them as they perform selections from: Khachaturian, Babajanian, Gomidas, Liszt, Chausson, Berlioz, Gomidas, Obradors, Gardel and Piazzolla.
The international opera super-star Isabel Bayrakdarian’s has been described by the Washington Post to have a voice that is “ a high, bright soprano voice that she employs with a lithe and winning energy.” Admired for her dazzling stage presence, supreme musicality, and the bravado for making her own career path.
While the equally acclaimed Serouj Kradjian has been described as “a pianistic hurricane,” not only as a virtuoso but also causing a sensation every time he steps to the ivory keys. Occidental College Thorne Hall will be hosting the internationally renowned soprano and pianist, promising and night of enchantment that won’t disappoint!
This concert, featuring artists of this caliber will sell out. In fact, the duo Isabel Bayrakdarian & Serouj Kradjian previously performed in 2 sold out shows in Fresno this September. Purchase tickets soon to ensure seats. Presale tickets are available starting Nov. 1, 2011.
When: December 18, 2011
Where: Occidental College Thorne Hall
1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles CA 90041
Tickets Prices: $25-$100
Complete information: http://www.itsmyseat.com/Isabel
About the Artists:
Isabel Bayrakdarian burst onto the international opera scene after winning first prize in the 2000 Operalia competition founded by Plácido Domingo. Since then she has performed in many of the world’s major opera houses, recital stages and concert halls.
Bayrakdarian sings on the Grammy award-winning soundtrack of the blockbuster film The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, and her voice can also be heard in the multiple award-winning Canadian film Ararat. She has been honored with four Juno awards, Canada’s highest recording prize, most recently for her CD Mozart arie & duetti with fellow Canadians Russell Braun and Michael Schade. Bayrakdarian is the subject of a CBC-TV film entitled A Long Journey Home that documents her first trip to Armenia; on another trip there she recorded a disc of songs by the country’s national composer, Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935), with Serouj Kradjian and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra which is available on the Nonesuch label and was a 2009 Grammy nominee.
Canadian-Armenian pianist and composer Serouj Kradjian has established himself as a versatile artist whose readiness to break boundaries and explore different styles has made him an exciting voice on the classical music scene.
Serouj Kradjian’s discography includes the highly acclaimed Transcendental Etudes and Piano Concerti by Franz Liszt on the Warner Music Spain label, “Miniatures”, an anthology of music written by Armenian composers, and Robert Schumann’s three Sonatas for Violin and Piano (with Ara Malikian) are both Hänssler Classic releases.
His concerts have been broadcast by the CBC, Radio de la Suisse Romande, Radio and TV España, the BBC, the Süddeutsche Rundfunk and NHK Japan.
Serouj Kradjian began his studies at the age of five, and by seven had won a National Competition for Young Musicians. He studied with Einar Steen-Nökleberg at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover, receiving the coveted Solo Performance degree in 2001. Kradjian’s talent has been acknowledged by the Chalmers Grant of the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council.
