Varduhi Khachatryan – mezzo sopraan
Born in Yerevan (Armenia), in 1986-1990 she studied at the Romanos Melikian Music College in Yerevan in the class of Prof. Vladimir Khachatryan and in 1990-1995 at the Yerevan State Conservatory, vocal department, in the class of Prof. Marianna Harutunyan. In 1995-1997 she got the post-graduate vocal education in the class of Prof. Gohar Gasparyan.
She made her début in 1996 at Yerevan Opera Theatre, in the role of Parandzhen, in “Arshak II” by T. Chukhadyan. From 1997 until 2004, at Yerevan Opera Theatre, she has been Carmen in “Carmen” by G. Bizet, Polina in “Pikovaya dama” by P. Tchaikovsky, Azucena in “Il Trovatore” by G. Verdi and Adalgisa in “Norma” by V. Bellini, and, like concert performance, she has been Amneris in “Aida” by G. Verdi with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1999 she has been Mother in “Anoush” by A. Tigranian in Los Angeles (USA).
She is prize-winner in the many Intenational Singing Conpetitions , among them International Singing Competition in Verviers (Belgium), Julian Gayarre International Singing Competition in Pamplona (Spain), Vincenzo Bellini International Singing Competition in Caltanissetta (Italy), Grand Prix Maria Callas in Athens (Greece), Concurs Internacional de Cant Montserrat Caballé in Sant Julià de Lòria (Principality of Andorra) and the other.
She has had tours and concerts in Armenia, Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, USA, Spain, Austria, Canada, England and Italy, taking part in many well known international festivals, among them “Musicastello 1999” (Italy), “Festival Castell de Peralada 2001” (Spain), “Festival Euro Mediterraneo 2001” (Italy), “Flâneries Musicales d’Eté 2002” in Reims (France), MIDEM 2002 in Cannes (France), “Suoni di Primavera2004” in Sicily (Italy), in “Festival d’Ambronay” 2009, (France).
In 2001 has taken part in the “Festival Euromediterraneo 2001”, in the Teatro Romano of Ostia Antica (Roma, Ilaly), where she has sung together with Monserrat Caballé duo from “Maria Stuarda” by Donizetti.
In December 2001 she has been Azucena in “Il Trovatore by G. Verdi, at Teatro Gayarre in Pamplona (Spain). In 2001 she has taken part, together with José Cura, in the TV program “Klassisch!” in Munich (Germany). In January 2002 she has been guest at MIDEM in Cannes (France), where she did a concert recorded by TV channel MEZZO.
In March 2002 in Bergamo (Italy), she has sung together with Cecilia Gasdia the “Stabat mater” by G. B. Pergolesi.
In May 2002 she has taken part in the “IX Gala Lirica”, at Teatro Monumental in Madrid (Spain), with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española and in October she has done a concert at Salle Gaveau in Paris and has sung. In 2002 she has sung at Teatro Gayarre in Pamplona (Spain) the “Petite messe solennelle” by G. Rossini.
In January 2003 she has been Adalgisa in “Norma” by V. Bellini at Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, and in the same year she has been Adalgisa in the opera-film “Norma” by V. Bellini. (DECCA)
In September 2003 she has been Cherubino in “Le Nozze di Figaro” by W. A. Mozart in Spoleto,(Italy) and in November she has been Olga in “Evgenij Onegin” by P. Tchaikovsky, at Teatro Giuseppe Verdi in Sassari (Italy).
In April 2004 she has taken part in Italy in the festival “Suoni di Primavera”. In June she has been Cherubino in “Le Nozze di Figaro” by W. A. Mozart in several prestigious theatres in Japan, among them the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo, in July she has been guest of the festival “Flâneries Musicales d’Eté 2004” in Reims (Francia) whereshe has been protagonist of the concert “Les voix de Montserrat Caballé” and in December has done several “Concerto di Natale” in Italy.
In December 2006 and in January 2007 she will do some “Concerto di Natale” in different towns in Italy. In April 2007 she performed the “Stabat Mater” by A. Vivaldi in so many Sicily towns.
In September 2009 she performed Nerone in “Incoronazione di Poppea” by Monteverdi in “Festival d’Ambronay”, France. And in September 2009 she has been protagonist of “Maria Callas Commemorative Concert” in Athens, Greece in the MEGARON Concert Hall. In December 2009 she has sung Symphony N9 by Beethoven in Clermont-Ferrand.
In September 2010 she has taken part in the “Return Festival” with the solo-recital “Opera Masks” in Erevan, (Armenia) and in October 2010 with solo-recital in the “CONCERTUS SAISONNUS” in Geneva (Switzerland).
Her future performances including Mendelssohn “Hymne” for mezzo soprano-solo, choir and orchestra, Mendelssohn “Die Erste Walpurgis Nacht” with choir and orchestra in July-August 2011 in Ile de La Reunion (France) and the solo-recital “Hommage a Grand Verdi” in the “CONCERTUS SAISONNUS” in October 2011 in Geneva (Switzerland).
Her recordings including the “Ode of Joy” by Aram Khachaturian, (CD- England), the Film-opera “Norma” by Bellini, (DVD – DECCA), Franc Martin “Cendrillon” (CD – Geneva, Switzerland) and “Dedication to Komitas” (CD – Erevan)
On 17 March 2013, Varduhi will bring ‘In Memory of Maria Callas’, a Verdi and Italian opera recital , in the Geelvinck Salon, together with pianist Hayk Melikyan.