Francesca da Rimini — Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Sergey Khachatryan, Violin, Eduard Topchjan, Music Director

The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO), founded in 1925 by Arshak Adamian and Alexander Spendiaryan, is Armenia's leading symphonic ensemble and a cultural symbol of the nation. Based at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan, the orchestra has been led by distinguished conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Loris Tjeknavorian, and since 2000, Eduard Topchjan, who has significantly elevated its international profile and artistic standards.

Throughout its history, ANPO has collaborated with world-renowned soloists including David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Julia Fischer, and Plácido Domingo. Its repertoire spans the great works of the symphonic canon, contemporary music, and compositions by Armenian composers such as Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanian, and Avet Terteryan, reaffirming its commitment to promoting national musical heritage.

The orchestra has toured across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, performing in prestigious venues such as Symphony Hall in Boston and the Maison Symphonique in Montreal. In 2023, it celebrated the 120th anniversary of Khachaturian and the 150th of Rachmaninov with an international tour featuring works like the ballet "Spartacus" and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2.

Beyond concert performances, ANPO organizes the International Music Festival in Yerevan and participates in educational and social initiatives such as YerazArt Academy and the Vasily Petrenko Conductor’s Academy, supporting the development of young talents and music education in Armenia.

With over 40 recordings, ANPO continues to be a benchmark of artistic excellence and a cultural ambassador for Armenia worldwide.

**SERGEY KHACHATRYAN. Violin**

Sergey Khachatryan, born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1985, is one of the most prominent violinists of his generation. He began studying violin at the age of six and moved to Germany in 1993, where he continued his training with Grigori Zhislin in Würzburg and Josef Rissin in Karlsruhe. His international career took off in 2000 when he won First Prize at the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, becoming the youngest winner in the competition's history. In 2005, he received First Prize at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.

Khachatryan has performed with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In the United States, he has collaborated with the Seattle Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, among others.

During the 2024/25 season, Khachatryan is scheduled to perform with the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lyon, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurter Museumsorchester, Orquesta de Valencia, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Gävle Symfoniorkester. He will also embark on a tour of Spain with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra.

Khachatryan maintains a close artistic partnership with his sister, pianist Lusine Khachatryan. Together, they have given recitals in prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall in London, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and Cité de la Musique in Paris, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Brucknerhaus in Linz, Konzerthaus in Dortmund, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, and Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

His discography includes recordings of the violin concertos by Sibelius and Khachaturian, Shostakovich’s violin concertos, sonatas by Bach, Brahms, and Franck, as well as works by Komitas and other Armenian composers. In 2014, he received the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award, which included a performance with the Vienna Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel at the Lucerne Festival. Khachatryan has played on historic instruments, including the 1708 'Huggins' Stradivarius and the 1740 'Ysaÿe' Guarneri del Gesù, both provided by the Nippon Music Foundation.

**EDUARD TOPCHJAN. Music Director**

Eduard Topchjan is a leading figure in Armenian orchestral conducting, recognized for his clear technique, innate musicality, and dedication to artistic excellence. Since 2000, he has served as Artistic and Chief Conductor of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO), solidifying its reputation both within Armenia and internationally.

Initially trained as a violinist at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, Topchjan furthered his conducting studies under Ohan Durian and received guidance from maestros such as Sir Georg Solti, Claudio Abbado, and Nello Santi. In 1991, he co-founded the Serenade Chamber Orchestra with fellow conservatory musicians, an ensemble that quickly gained acclaim across Europe, performing over 700 concerts and winning awards at international competitions.

His debut with ANPO in 2000 marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration, taking the orchestra to prestigious stages such as the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Bolshoi Theatre. Under his direction, ANPO has successfully toured Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United States, and Canada, earning praise for the quality of its performances and its advocacy for Armenian music.

Topchjan has conducted a broad operatic repertoire, including Aida, The Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly, Turandot, Otello, Rigoletto, Eugene Onegin, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, and Tosca. He has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Plácido Domingo, Pinchas Zukerman, Mischa Maisky, Natalia Gutman, Steven Isserlis, Emmanuel Pahud, Boris Berezovsky, Sergey Khachatryan, Julia Fischer, and Isabelle Faust.

As a guest conductor, he has worked with over 40 international orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Since 2007, he has served as Artistic Director of the International Music Festival in Yerevan, a key event enriching Armenia’s cultural landscape.

His repertoire spans from baroque to contemporary music, and he has premiered numerous works by Armenian and international composers. Notable recordings include performances of works by Komitas, Khachaturian, Mozart, and Beethoven.

In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Topchjan has received multiple honors, including the title of Honored Artist of Armenia (2007), the Gold Medal from Armenia’s Ministry of Culture (2011), the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2013), and the Medal for Services to the Fatherland (2016).