Nareh Arghamanyan is described by Musical America writer and fellow pianist Harris Goldsmith as a “major, major, major talent” who places audiences under the “spell of (her) magnificent artist(ry).” On Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., Union will host a performance by this 21-year-old Armenian musician. Her program includes selections by Rameau, Brahms, Rachmaninov and Liszt.
A recognized talent from an early age, Arghamanyan was eight when she began her studies with Alexander Gurgenov at the Tchaikovsky Music School for Talented Children. She was also the youngest student ever to be admitted to the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, entering in 2004.
Arghamanyan has performed with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Mont Blanc Symphony France and the Armenian Philharmonic, with planned appearances this season from Vienna to Vancouver. Winning the Montreal International Music Competition in 2008 further confirmed her place as one of today’s finest young pianists. Arghamanyan had previously earned first place wins at the 2007 Jose Roca International Competition in Valencia and the 2005 Josef Dichler Piano Competition in Vienna.
A participant at the 2009 Marlboro Music Festival, she will return again this year. Arghamanyan is no stranger to second appearances; a debut at the San Francisco Performances last season was followed by another invitation to their “Young Master Series” in 2011.
The Analekta label recently released Arghamanyan’s highly praised recording of the Rachmaninov 2nd sonata and Liszt B minor sonata.
The show is open to the public and free to members of the Union community. General admission tickets are $20, though area students may attend for $8. For a complete list of this season’s concerts, click here.