Sergey Smbatyan: Holding Khachaturian International Competition in China is greatest achievement for us

This year’s Khachaturian International Competition, which is dedicated to the 120th birth anniversary of world-renowned Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, is being held in the capital of China, Beijing.

And at the invitation of the Chinese side, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of its artistic director and chief conductor Sergey Smbatyan, will accompany the finalists of this competition.

Martin Tovmasyan, Director of the Aram Khachaturian Cultural Foundation, noted at Thursday’s press conference that the Khachaturian International Competition is being held in China in cooperation with the aforementioned foundation, the China National Opera House, and Chinese state institutions.

"The Chinese side launched the holding of a competition dedicated to Aram Khachaturian in their country, and we responded positively to it, as this is another good opportunity to popularize the Khachaturian art," said Tovmasyan.

He recalled that on December 17, the special edition of the Khachaturian International Competition started in the "violin" category.

Sergey Smbatyan, artistic director and chief conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, for his part, considered it a great achievement that the Khachaturian International Competition is being held in China, a country that is trying to develop classical music.

"Aram Khachaturian is the symbol that also unites young musicians, as China invites musicians from all over the world to participate in the competition. And if there is that desire for Aram Khachaturian to be the collective image, uniting musicians of different nations, it is a greatest achievement for us, as for many years we have been doing everything possible to set new international standards around the name of Aram Khachaturian," said Smbatyan.

According to him, in China, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will hold concerts with the musicians who pass the third stage of the Khachaturian International Competition.

"I believe the orchestra's performances in China, at the national opera of Beijing, is a new standard for us," Smbatyan said, adding that the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will have three concerts in the Chinese capital city.

Also, Sergey Smbatyan stated that Aram Khachaturian is one of the most performed composers in China and Japan.