A septet of masterful vocalists and instrumentalists gives renewed voice to Armenia’s spiritual lineage in bracing, emotional, and propulsive work rising on the classical scene.

“A stunning discovery,”(Bayerischer Rundfunk) The Naghash Ensemble combines the earthy spirituality of Armenian folk song, new classical music, and contemporary post-minimalism with the energy of rock and jazz. Three brilliant female vocalists and some of Armenia’s finest instrumentalists on duduk, oud, dhol, and piano play captivating new music based on sacred texts by the medieval Armenian mystic poet and priest, Mkrtich Naghash.

Written by Armenian-American composer John Hodian, The Naghash Ensemble’s “Songs of Exile” is a meditation on man’s relationship to God from the perspective of a monk forced to live in exile for many years. “Part folk music, part classical, and profoundly moving. Unmistakably Armenian, but out of this world” – Armenisch-Deutsche Korrespondenz 

“An enchanting elixir of sounds based on new Armenian folk and centuries-old poetry” — KEXP

“A moment of grace and meditation”— Rolling Stone

“An unusually subtle, yet accessible world of sound. Bell-like voices entice with shimmering melodic arcs, canon-like shifts and contrapuntal lines. Without dramatic vibrato, the singers create a tantalizing intensity of spiritual depth.”

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Hasmik Baghdasaryan – soprano
Tatevik Movsesyan – soprano
Arpine Ter-Petrosyan – alto
Tigran Hovhannisyan – dhol
Aram Nikoghosyan – oud
Emmanuel Hovhannisyan – duduk
John Hodian - piano/composer

US. DEBUT WITH CENTER STAGE

Available March-April 2023

TRAVELERS

9 on tour (7 musicians, sound engineer, U.S. company manager)

VENUES

Chamber, Classical, New Music, and Global Series and Festivals: concert and recital halls, site specific venues with excellent acoustics; amplification used for balance; concert-quality grand piano required (ideally a Steinway D).

press

• Feature: Armenia Weekly – Keepers of the Flame
• Review (2019): Südkurier – Erweiterte Hörerfahrungen mit dem Naghash-Ensemble (English here)
• Interview: h-Pem– Resurrecting the Exiled

technical information

View and download production information as of August 2021 at the link below. A Technical Rider with these general conditions will be created for all Center Stage engagements.

audio tracks 

• Soundcloud: On the Vanity of this World

• Soundcloud: Composed in Exile 

Downloadable photos, billing & credits 

Minimum Billing
The Naghash Ensemble
On tour as part of Center Stage
www.CenterStageUS.org

Credit Line
The following credit is required on the title page in all printed performance programs. We appreciate its use wherever else it's practical: brochures, posters, ensemble-only promotional materials, press releases, advertisements, etc:

The Naghash Ensemble is part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc.

Logo
Center Stage logo placement is encouraged. On web-based materials, please link from the Center Stage logo and/or written name to www.centerstageUS.org.

Assets
High-resolution promotional photos (photographer credit is in the file name), and several versions of the Center Stage logo are available at this link.