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PIANIST SHOWCASES HER LOCAL FAVORITES
By Chirine Lahoud
The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Music/2011/Nov-17/154295-pianist-showcases-her-local-favorites.ashx#axzz1dwD6yASY
Nov 17 2011
KOURA, Lebanon: The Ukrainian pianist Tatiana Primak-Khoury has been
living in Lebanon for almost 10 years. Appointed artist-in-residence
at the University of Balamand shortly after her arrival, and with
her regular performances and teaching schedule, she's been "playing
a lot since then.
"In a Tuesday interview with The Daily Star, Primak-Khoury explained
what her artist-in-residence role entails, and what her upcoming
Saturday evening performance will offer audiences.
Primak-Khoury studied at the Kiev Conservatory (also known as the
Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music) where she met her husband -
Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury. They moved together to Tripoli,
where she began her career at Balamand.
"[Balamand] is a real cultural and educational center, not only to
the north of Lebanon but probably for the countries nearby," said
Primak-Khoury. "It is growing in importance. So it was an honor to
me that they asked me to be part of their cultural life."
Playing an average of one concert per month, the artist-in-residence
regularly performs classical masterpieces such as Beethoven's sonatas,
Rachmaninoff's preludes, Brahms' rhapsodies and Chopin's ballades.
But for Saturday's performance, Primak-Khoury will be playing - and
not for the first time - works by Lebanese composers, because for her
"it is important to present compositions written by local composers."
Among those on the program, "some are known," she said, and "some
are forgotten."
Primak-Khoury will honor the famed composer Toufic Succar by playing
his "Variations sur un Theme Oriental op.2" ("Variations on a Middle
Eastern Theme op.2"). Born in Tripoli in 1922, Succar is known for his
polyphonic compositions. He was an experimental composer, a pioneer
in blending musical types such as Middle Eastern music with Maronite
tunes. Renowned for his variety, Succar's repertoire includes chamber
music and choir songs.
Paris-based Bechara al-Khoury's compositions will also be part of
the lineup, which Primak-Khoury put together herself.
Known for his 1985 composition "Les Ruines de Beyrouth" ("Beirut's
Ruins") mourning the Civil War, Khoury is both a composer and a
conductor. His composition "Les Fleuves Engloutis" even made it to
the finals of the 2003 Masterprize International Composing Competition.
The younger composer, born in 1957, "is ... modern in his musical
language," stated Primak-Khoury.
The artist-in-residence's performance will surely bring to light the
creativity of the Lebanese composers Primak-Khoury has chosen.
Armenian-Lebanese composer and pianist Boghos Gelalian, born in 1927,
is known for his mixing of different musical genres. He has accompanied
various choirs and worked with the Rahbani brothers.
Because of his blending of Armenian and Middle Eastern influences,
combined with his reputation as a versatile musician, Primak-Khoury
will play his "Canzona e Toccata pour piano" both to show her own
versatility and to pay respect to such a respected composer, even
though he is from "an older generation," as she put it.
Another grand Armenian that Primak-Khoury will play Saturday is Anis
Fuleihan (1900-1970). At the beginning of the 20th century, Fuleihan
toured the Middle East and the U.S. His compositions are said to be
influenced by folk music, once again showing the multiplicity of the
composers on show Saturday night.
Finally, Primak-Khoury will honor - in the evening's most personal
selection - a composition written by her husband Houtaf Khoury. His
works have been played all around the world, and he is also the
author of two books about Lebanese music: "La Musique au Liban entre
1943-1945" and "Les Deux Tendances Stylistiques dans la Musique
Symphonique Libanaise."
Primak-Khoury's husband originally wrote the piece that she will now
play, "Elegie," for the Lebanese pianist Walid Akl, who died in 1997.
She called this composition special because "[Khoury] used the Lebanese
National Anthem," she said, "but in minor key." She explained how
originally it was written in a major key, giving a "joyful" sense to
the song. But in a minor key, her husband's "Elegie" sounds "not as
optimistic," she said.
When asked about the general reaction of Lebanese audiences to
her music, Primak-Khoury expressed her gratitude to her faithful
spectators, who come to see her month after month. "They know
where they go and what to expect," she said. For her, being an
artist-in-residence "is a cultural and educational mission."
Tatiana Primak-Khoury will play "Lebanese Composers" at the University
of Balamand on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. For more information please call
06-930-250.
By Chirine Lahoud
The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Music/2011/Nov-17/154295-pianist-showcases-her-local-favorites.ashx#axzz1dwD6yASY
Nov 17 2011
KOURA, Lebanon: The Ukrainian pianist Tatiana Primak-Khoury has been
living in Lebanon for almost 10 years. Appointed artist-in-residence
at the University of Balamand shortly after her arrival, and with
her regular performances and teaching schedule, she's been "playing
a lot since then.
"In a Tuesday interview with The Daily Star, Primak-Khoury explained
what her artist-in-residence role entails, and what her upcoming
Saturday evening performance will offer audiences.
Primak-Khoury studied at the Kiev Conservatory (also known as the
Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music) where she met her husband -
Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury. They moved together to Tripoli,
where she began her career at Balamand.
"[Balamand] is a real cultural and educational center, not only to
the north of Lebanon but probably for the countries nearby," said
Primak-Khoury. "It is growing in importance. So it was an honor to
me that they asked me to be part of their cultural life."
Playing an average of one concert per month, the artist-in-residence
regularly performs classical masterpieces such as Beethoven's sonatas,
Rachmaninoff's preludes, Brahms' rhapsodies and Chopin's ballades.
But for Saturday's performance, Primak-Khoury will be playing - and
not for the first time - works by Lebanese composers, because for her
"it is important to present compositions written by local composers."
Among those on the program, "some are known," she said, and "some
are forgotten."
Primak-Khoury will honor the famed composer Toufic Succar by playing
his "Variations sur un Theme Oriental op.2" ("Variations on a Middle
Eastern Theme op.2"). Born in Tripoli in 1922, Succar is known for his
polyphonic compositions. He was an experimental composer, a pioneer
in blending musical types such as Middle Eastern music with Maronite
tunes. Renowned for his variety, Succar's repertoire includes chamber
music and choir songs.
Paris-based Bechara al-Khoury's compositions will also be part of
the lineup, which Primak-Khoury put together herself.
Known for his 1985 composition "Les Ruines de Beyrouth" ("Beirut's
Ruins") mourning the Civil War, Khoury is both a composer and a
conductor. His composition "Les Fleuves Engloutis" even made it to
the finals of the 2003 Masterprize International Composing Competition.
The younger composer, born in 1957, "is ... modern in his musical
language," stated Primak-Khoury.
The artist-in-residence's performance will surely bring to light the
creativity of the Lebanese composers Primak-Khoury has chosen.
Armenian-Lebanese composer and pianist Boghos Gelalian, born in 1927,
is known for his mixing of different musical genres. He has accompanied
various choirs and worked with the Rahbani brothers.
Because of his blending of Armenian and Middle Eastern influences,
combined with his reputation as a versatile musician, Primak-Khoury
will play his "Canzona e Toccata pour piano" both to show her own
versatility and to pay respect to such a respected composer, even
though he is from "an older generation," as she put it.
Another grand Armenian that Primak-Khoury will play Saturday is Anis
Fuleihan (1900-1970). At the beginning of the 20th century, Fuleihan
toured the Middle East and the U.S. His compositions are said to be
influenced by folk music, once again showing the multiplicity of the
composers on show Saturday night.
Finally, Primak-Khoury will honor - in the evening's most personal
selection - a composition written by her husband Houtaf Khoury. His
works have been played all around the world, and he is also the
author of two books about Lebanese music: "La Musique au Liban entre
1943-1945" and "Les Deux Tendances Stylistiques dans la Musique
Symphonique Libanaise."
Primak-Khoury's husband originally wrote the piece that she will now
play, "Elegie," for the Lebanese pianist Walid Akl, who died in 1997.
She called this composition special because "[Khoury] used the Lebanese
National Anthem," she said, "but in minor key." She explained how
originally it was written in a major key, giving a "joyful" sense to
the song. But in a minor key, her husband's "Elegie" sounds "not as
optimistic," she said.
When asked about the general reaction of Lebanese audiences to
her music, Primak-Khoury expressed her gratitude to her faithful
spectators, who come to see her month after month. "They know
where they go and what to expect," she said. For her, being an
artist-in-residence "is a cultural and educational mission."
Tatiana Primak-Khoury will play "Lebanese Composers" at the University
of Balamand on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. For more information please call
06-930-250.