Armenian-American piano virtuoso to perform at Sourb Khach liturgy

With anticipation growing for next month's special liturgy on Akdamar Island, one of the Armenian diaspora's most accomplished piano virtuosos, Sahan Arzruni, has announced that he will also perform at Sourb Khach Church on Sept. 19.

"My long-time desire is about to come true. The Turkish Consulate General in New York, with the cooperation of the Van Governor's Office, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized and put together a full-length concert in a most satisfying way," Arzruni told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, detailing those responsible for bringing him to the eastern province of Van for the liturgy. "I am very pleased indeed."

Arzruni's attendance at the religious ceremony also has a symbolic significance. The artist, an Istanbul-born Armenian-American ethnomusicologist, has roots that go back to the pre-modern Vaspurakan Kingdom, established by Gagik Artsruni in the area.

The most striking work of the concert is likely to be "Akhtamar," by Arzruni's aunt, master composer Sirvart Karamanukyan, who died in Istanbul last year.

When asked if the current problems between the two peoples could be overcome and a dialogue could be established, Arzruni said: "Communication is perhaps the only means to understanding each other's aspirations, desires, intentions, thoughts and sentiments. Sometimes a simple smile is enough to communicate a host of feelings. Whatever the case, I am sure the people who will come to visit Akdamar Island on that historic weekend will be met with open arms by the residents of Van."

Like many artists from the diaspora whose roots go back to Anatolia, Arzruni has given concerts in Istanbul many times but they were only limited to the participation of the Armenian public because they were not generally promoted.

"I visit Istanbul several times a year, so it is like a second home for me," the pianist said, noting his affection for the city of his birth. "I am equally at home both in New York and Istanbul. I have my social milieu in both cities. I engage in various cultural and community activities in both places. To tell you the truth, whichever city I am in, that is home. It is like asking which composer you like the most: The composer whose work I am listening to or playing at the moment, of course. Otherwise why would I play or listen to it?"

Arzruni also said he was very excited about the religious ceremony in Van, adding that he had wanted to come to Van for the ceremony that was held after the restoration in 2007 but had not been able to do so.

Arzruni's concert on Sept. 19 will bring together Turkish and Armenian artists, with young and successful viola artist Sevil Ulucan and Istanbul State Opera and Ballet soloist Kevork Tavityan accompanying Arzruni at the concert. The artists will perform works from Turkish classical music composers Adnan Saygun and Yüksel Koptagel and Armenian ethnomusicologist-composer Gomidas, as well as many other Turkish and Armenian composers.