Divine Art Records

Composer: Arno Babajanian (or Babadjanian)

  • Babadjanian, Chebotaryan & Piazzolla: Piano Trios

    Babadjanian, Chebotaryan & Piazzolla: Piano Trios

    2021 MusicWeb International Recording of the Year

    This is the debut album from Quebec-based Trio de l’Île, a young ensemble of exceptional talent, comprising Uliana Drugova (violin), Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy (cello) and Patil Harboyan (piano). The group was founded in 2015, and the three members have all enjoyed success in their careers to date, as performers and teachers.

    The Piano Trio in F sharp minor (1952) by Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian (1921-1983) is widely considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the genre; the Andante a particularly beautiful and much-loved melody.. The work is joined by another Armenian piece, the trio (1945) by Gayané Chebotaryan (1918-1998), which has stronger inspiration from the Armenian folk inflections familiar in the music of Khachaturian as well as the Russian classical tradition.

    As a contrast we have the ‘Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’ from 1960 by Argentinian legend Astor Piazzolla, the composer who revolutionized the tango, turning it from a steamy dance into a true art form. Lively, exotic and highly rhythmic, these pieces embody the Latin spirit totally. The arrangement for piano trio is by cellist José Bragato, a member of Piazzolla’s own Octet.

     

  • Music from Armenia for Cello and Piano

    Music from Armenia for Cello and Piano

    In Europe and the US, familiarity with Armenian music has been largely limited to Khachaturian but there is a surge of interest in the unique distinctive melodic traditions of the country. This collection contains formal works and arrangements of folk tunes from the Talalyan archives which derive from the collecting of Gomidas (Komitas) and is superbly presented by Canadian celist Heather Tuach (also previously cellist with the Fitzwilliam Quartet) and Armenian-Canadian pianist Patil Harboyan. The music in Western terms is very much in the Romantic tradition, the folk arrangements quite sophisticated and worthy of as much attention as well-established collections.

    A highly entertaining and revelatory program – almost all of the works receiving their first recording. Booklet notes in English, Armenian and French.