NEWS

“Inner World”

“Inner World”

“When you leave your homeland, you leave behind something very important that is hard to describe in words. Itis that light and air which you unconsciously love, it is the smell of spring, the kindness of people under whose warm gaze you flourish and of course, the sounds of music. How lucky we musicians are to be able to collect all these precious things into one whole – into music, into melodies that are always with us in our head and heart; melodies that belong to us all, that we can reproduce and relive at any time. By leaving one country you give yourself the chance to discover another world, where new motifs and colours accompany you like a guide, in the search for your own voice and your own inner world.
This recording is an illustration of my musical journey, during which I meet friends old and new with equal joy.”

Release April 2023

Armenian Piano Trio

A long cherised mutual dream came finally to life: with pianist Sofya Melikyan and violinist David Haroutunian we founded a Piano Trio. Our first  CD recording will be released in September 2021 by Rubicon Classics, featuring Brahms Trios Op. 87 & 101, to be followed by more chamber music by Brahms.
Enjoy some excerpts from our concert last October in Paris!

New Projects

New Projects

During the pandemic I started to  plan new projects and can share more about them soon here. Stay tuned!

Calendar

Keine Veranstaltungen

Biography

Mikayel Hakhnazaryan has been the cellist of the Kuss Quartet for sixteen years and the principal cellist of the Munich Chamber Orchestra for ten years.
Chamber music lies at the heart of his musical work, representing his greatest passion and enabling him to connect deeply with other musicians and his audience.

 

In addition to the Kuss Quartet, the Armenian Piano Trio, founded in 2020 and comprising pianist Sofya Melikyan and violinist David Haroutunian, also plays a significant role in his musical life.

 

He regularly performs with renowned musicians such as Viviane Hagner, Miklós Perényi, Mirijam Contzen, Mischa Maisky, Dénes Várjon, Maurice Steger, Sarah Maria Sun, and Alexander Lonquich. 

With the Kuss Quartet, Mikayel Hakhnazaryan is a frequent presence in major concert halls, including Wigmore Hall in London, the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and Teatro La Fenice in Venice.

 

Born in Armenia, Mikayel has remained deeply connected to his homeland. After graduating from the Armenian State Conservatory, he continued his studies at the Tibor Varga Academy of Music in Sion under Marcio Carneiro and completed his soloist diploma with Prof. Ivan Monighetti at the Basel Music Academy. During his time at the Tibor Varga Academy, Mikayel regularly appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the chamber orchestra.

A particularly valuable inspiration in his musical career has been the long-standing collaboration and friendship with cellist Steven Isserlis, who also introduced him to Prussia Cove. For over 15 years, Mikayel regularly participated in the “Open Chamber Music” weeks there.

 
In Armenia, Mikayel Hakhnazaryan has performed as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated in a “play & lead” role with the Armenian Chamber Orchestra.

He is a sought-after principal cellist, having performed with numerous prestigious orchestras, including the Basque National Orchestra, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Camerata Salzburg, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Gstaad Festival Orchestra, and Cappella Andrea Barca.

In recent years, Mikayel has regularly appeared as a guest with the Berlin Philharmonic and performed with their chamber music ensembles, such as the 12 Cellists and the Scharoun Ensemble.

 

He has taught masterclasses for Jeunesses Musicales, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and other renowned institutions. Since the winter semester of 2021/22, he has been a lecturer for chamber music at the Karlsruhe University of Music.

 

In April 2023, his solo CD Inner World, featuring works by Schumann, Rachmaninov, and Khachaturian, was released on the Rubicon label.

 

Mikayel plays a cello crafted by Andrea Castagneri in 1735.

Media

VIDEO

Boccherini: Cello Concerto G Major
Weinberg: Concertino for Cello & Strings Op. 43b

National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia
April 2023, Yerevan

Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile
National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia
Gevorg Gharabekyan, conductor
July 2017

Babajanyan: Cello Concerto
Sinfonieorchester Basel
Lutz Rademacher, conductor
2004

Inner World Trailer 

DISCOGRAPHY

Brahms & Schönberg

Arnold Schönberg: Verklärte Nacht op.4 für Klaviertrio (arr. Eduard Steuermann)
Johannes Brahms: Klaviertrio Nr. 1 op. 8

Sofya Melikyan, Piano
David Haroutunian, Violin
Mikayel Hakhnazaryan, Cello

Rubicon Classics
November 2024

Inner World

Khachaturian, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Komitas, Khudoyan, Bloch, Schumann, Tchaikovsky

Lia Hakhnazaryan, Piano

Rubicon Classics
April 2023

Brahms: Piano Trios 2 & 3

Sofya Melikyan, Piano
David Haroutunian, Violin
Mikayel Hakhnazaryan, Cello

Rubicon Classics
November 2021

Beethoven: The String Quartets

Live from Suntory Hall, Tokyo

Rubicon Classics
März 2020

Projects & Ensembles

Kuss Quartett

Mikayel is member of the renowned Kuss Quartet since 2008.

Armenian Piano Trio

est. 2020

Contact

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