Narek Hakhnazaryan ㅣ Cello
Since winning the Cello First Prize and Gold Medal at the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011 at the age of 22, Narek Hakhnazaryan has performed with most major orchestras across the globe and has established himself internationally as one of the finest cellists of his generation. Hakhnazaryan has earned critical acclaim world-wide, with the Strad describing him as “dazzlingly brilliant” and the Washington Post hailing him “a seasoned phenomenon”. In 2014 he was invited to join the prestigious BBC New Generation Artists scheme and in August 2016 he made his BBC Proms debut.
Hakhnazaryan has performed with orchestras such as the London Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio, NHK Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic orchestras and Orchestre de Paris, and with conductors such as Gergiev, Guerrero, Hrusa, Koopman, Neemi Järvi, Pletnev, Slatkin, Sokhiev, Robertson, Bělohlávek. He made a hugely debut with the LA Philharmonic/ Bringuier at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015 and toured Spain with the WDR Symphony/Saraste in the same year.
An eager chamber and recital performer Hakhnazaryan has played in halls such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Salle Pleyel Paris, Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Vienna Konzerthaus, Oji Hall Tokyo, Shanghai Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall (Boston) and at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Beethovenfest Bonn, Ravinia, Aspen, Piatigorsky, Mikkeli, Pau Casals, Lucerne and Verbier Festivals amongst many others.
Highlights of Hakhnazaryan's 2016/17 season include debuts with orchestras such as Berlin Konzerthaus, Netherlands Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Teatro Dell'Opera (Rome), Munich Chamber, Essen Philharmonic orchestras and returns to the BBC Philharmonic, New Zealand Symphony orchestras, Orchestre della Toscana and to the Warsaw Easter Festival. In recital, Hakhnazaryan will perform in cities such as London, Lugano and Eindhoven and in Summer 2017 he tours SE Asia with concerts in Taipei, Seoul, Kyoto and Tokyo.
Narek Hakhnazaryan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, into a family of musicians: his father is a violinist and his mother a pianist. Mentored by the late Rostropovich, Hakhnazaryan received an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2011 where he studied with Lawrence Lesser. Prior to this he studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Alexey Seleznyov and at the Sayat-Nova School of Music in Yerevan with Zareh Sarkisyan. Hakhnazaryan has received scholarships from the Rostropovich Foundation and the Russian Performing Arts Fund, and his prizes include First Prize in the 2006 Aram Khachaturian International Competition in Armenia and First Place in the 2006 Johansen International Competition for Young String Players. As First Prize winner in the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Hakhnazaryan made his debut at Carnegie's Zankel Hall and in Washington, DC.
Tae-Hyung Kim ㅣ Piano
Pianist Tae-Hyung Kim made his international debut in 2004 at the City of Porto International Piano Competition, where he won both first prize and the best interpretation prize of Beethoven Sonatas to become the first ever Korean to win at the event. The same year, he finished second at the Jeunesses Musicales International Piano Competition and championed a number of prestigious competitions including the Hamamatsu in 2006 and Long-Thibaud in 2007. His superb feats continued in 2008, as he topped the Interlaken Classics International Competition in Bern, Concours International de Musique du Maroc and Concours Grand Prix Animato.
In 2010, he took fifth place at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium, which is widely acknowledged to be one of the world's top three major piano contests, and captivated classical music fans at home and abroad. In 2013, he went to win both the first prize and audience prize at Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, which catapulted his music career throughout England and Europe.
Kim has expanded his scope of activities by performing with prominent international orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, National Orchestra of Belgium, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, and Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with such renowned conductors as Vladimir Spivakov, Marin Alsop, Emil Tabakov, and Vakhtang Matchavariani, among many others. He has also appeared with leading Korean orchestras including the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Korean Chamber Orchestra, Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wonju Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kim made his solo debut through the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2000, and has since been invited to give recitals for the Kumho Rising Star Series, Yamaha Rising Artist Series, and Hoam Rising Star Series in Seoul, Korea. He has established his presence in Europe through several solo recitals in Belgium including Bruges SCOOP concert series, a recital at Handelsbeurs in Gent, or at Cultuurcentrum in Mechelen and Kortrijk Festival van Vlaanderen. He continued to expand his horizons at the Yokohama International Piano Concert, Florence International Music Festival and Euro Music Festival in Leipzig. He has also performed a renowned concert venues including Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot in Paris, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Handelsbeurs in Gent, Concertgebouw in Bruges, Dom Muziki in Moscow, Philharmonie in St. Petersburg, and Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.
Kim has demonstrated a profound commitment and passion for chamber music. He has appeared frequently at various chamber music festivals including Mariinsky Far East Festival in Vladivostok, Festival de Musica Credomatic, Great Mountains International Music Festival, Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, and Ditto Festival. In 2013, he formed ‘Trio Gaon', with violinist Jehye Lee and cellist Hendrik Blumenroth (current cellist is Samuel Lutzker) during his chamber music course at München Hochschule für Musik und Theater with Professor Christoph Poppen and Friedemann Berger. He is also a valued member of the Kumho Asiana Soloists along with many other promising musicians of Korea.
Born in Seoul, Tae-Hyung Kim graduated summa cum laude from Seoul Arts High School and studied with Professor Choong-Mo Kang at Korean National University of Arts. Upon graduation, he moved to Germany to complete Meisterklasse(Konzertexamen) in piano performance under guidance of Professor Elisso Virsaladze and Meisterklasse(Konzertexamen) in Liedgestaltung with Helmut Deutsch at München Hochschule für Musik und Theater. He subsequently trained at the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I.Tchaikovsky under Elisso Virsaladze. Currently Kim is based in München.
Johann Sebastian Bach Suite for Solo Cello No.1 in G Major, BWV1007
Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Menuet 1
Menuet 2
Gigue
Adam Khudoyan Sonata for Solo Cello No.1
György Ligeti Sonata for Solo Cello
Dialogo
Capriccio
INTERMISSION
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky Nocturne for Cello and Piano in d minor, Op.19/4
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso for Cello and Piano in b minor, Op.62
Dmitry Shostakovich Sonata for Cello and Piano in d minor, Op.40
Allegro non troppo
Allegro
Largo
Allegro