Qanun Crossroads Fuses New Musical Combinations At Abu Dhabi Festival 2010

The “Queen of Qanun” Hasmik Leyloyan, last night graced the Emirates Palace Ballroom with a free concert, ’Qanun Crossroads’, staged as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2010, organized by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF). Joined by the Camertone Ensemble, Leyloyan enchanted the audience with a truly magical performance of haunting music, performed on one of the Middle East’s most treasured instruments. Appealing to both eastern and western audiences, Leyloyan gave an emotional performance spanning oriental Hijaz to occidental Paganini.

The partnership of Hasmik Leyloyan and Camertone Ensemble produced a fascinating tapestry of sound, blending elements of chamber music with the distinctive, folk-ish sounds of the Qanun. The eclectic musical program last night included classical works by Mozart, Paganini, Chopin and Brahms alongside more modern pieces by George Gershwin and Scott Joplin. There were also well known pieces by such distinguished Armenian composers as Aram Khatchaturyan, Alexander Spendiaryan, Arno Babajanyan, and others, as well as an Armenian national song, In Foreign Vacant Roadway, as a tribute to Leyloyan’s home country.

HE Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Hasmik Leyloyan to the Abu Dhabi Festival this year and to be able to hear the wonderful sounds of the Qanun, one of the region’s most important instruments. We are passionate about showcasing new types of music and bringing them to a wider audience. Last night’s performance with the Camertone Ensemble combined musical styles to produce a unique sound many of us have not heard before. ”

Leyloyan has been the soloist of Armenian State Philharmonic Society since the 1970s. She has performed with the orchestras of Yerevan National Opera House, Montreal, Toronto, Sydney, Lyon and New York, and The National Instruments Orchestra of Moscow among others and has collaborated with various renowned musicians.

Leyloyan has an unusual style of playing, using both right and left hands; the left for chords and the right for arpeggios and double chords. This allows her to play several different notes at the same time and to play her international repertoire with great fluidity.

Camertone Chamber Music Ensemble, which is made up of violins, viola, violoncello, contrabass and piano, was founded in 2007 by Liana Khandkaryan, the ensemble’s first violinist and artistic director. The group is made up of graduates of Yeveran and Moscow conservatories. Their repertoire includes classical, contemporary and popular music.

Abu Dhabi Festival 2010

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and runs until 7 April. This year’s Festival is a feast of arts and culture with more than 90 events over three weeks, fusing world-class performances in traditional, classical and jazz music, drama, fine arts, and ballet alongside rich education and community programs. Tickets for the Festival are on sale from timeouttickets.com, Virgin Megastores (Abu Dhabi Mall and Mall of the Emirates Dubai) and Emirates Palace (12pm-6pm). Part of the proceeds will go to the Ewaa Shelter for Women and Children. More information can be found at www.abudhabifestival.ae
 

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