The Naghash Ensemble

A magical evening of Armenian music direct from Yerevan, and the Canadian premiere of Dear Mountains, a recent work for chorus, solo cello, oud, and percussion, co-composed by the RCM alumna and Silk Road Ensemble member Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher. The Naghash Ensemble combines the earthy spirituality of Armenian folk songs, 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. Sought after for her “radiant” (The New York Times) performances full of “tremendous heart, bringing joy and a captivating sound to the stage” (The Strad), Karen Ouzounian is a Grammy Award nominated cellist and composer who creates music from a deeply personal place. An omnivorous musical spirit who “powerfully shatters pigeonholes with her artistic partners” (Ravinia Magazine), she has premiered numerous works and collaborated with some of the most singular musicians of our time, including Yo-Yo Ma, Rhiannon Giddens, and Augustin Hadelich. She will present Dear Mountains, a major work composed by her and Lembit Beecher in 2024 that juxtaposes stories told and retold in Ouzounian’s family with scenes of music-making across the Armenian diaspora over the last 100 years, as seen through archival recordings and writings. Dear Mountains features Ouzounian on cello, Ara Dinkjian on oud, Philip Mayer on percussion, and the Amadeus Choir led by Kathleen Allan. Led by Artistic Director Kathleen Allan, the Amadeus Choir champions the best of choral music and premieres works of Canadian and international composers through a self-produced Toronto concert series, guest performances, and special events. The Choir regularly commissions work from high-profile and emerging Canadian composers and recently established the Choral Creation Lab, a residency for composers and poets to co-create original works. Please join us! This concert is preceded by a short performance by talented students of The Royal Conservatory. Prelude Recital starts at 7pm.