Virtuoso violinist has a riveting CD

Sun, Mar. 04, 2007
Beacon Journal
By -- Elaine Guregian, Beacon Journal arts, culture writer

SHOSTAKOVICH VIOLIN CONCERTOS 1 AND 2
Sergey Khachatryan, violin, Orchestre National de France, Kurt Masur, conductor
Naive Classique V5025

The young violinist Sergey Khachatryan made a powerful impression on me when he debuted at the Blossom Festival in 2005. From the sound of his riveting new recording of the Shostakovich Violin Concertos No. 1 and 2, he is zooming toward an important career.

Khachatryan made this disc with Kurt Masur, the maestro who will conduct the Cleveland Orchestra when Khachatryan solos in the Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Severance Hall in Cleveland.

Khachatryan, born in Armenia's capital of Yerevan in 1985, seems to have it all: technique that won't quit, a gorgeous sound and keen musical judgment. In 2005, he won first prize in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium. This winter, he is touring the United States, performing with the San Diego Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

There's more talent in the family; the violinist's sister, pianist Lusine Khachatryan, will perform with him in his Carnegie Hall recital debut on April 30.

The Shostakovich concertos pair a brooding despair with nervous energy, qualities that come easily to this gifted player. Khachatryan can make his tone weep, then wiggle free into one of those delirious outbursts so characteristic of Shostakovich. The Orchestre National de France sounds fabulous, too. Its virtuosically skittering winds are the perfect complement to Khachatryan's daredevil playing of the crazily see-sawing lines.

For tickets to his Cleveland performances, call 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141.

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.