KOHAR Symphony Orchestra and Choir
Encyclopedia
The KOHAR Symphony Orchestra & Choir (frequently named and known as KOHAR) of Gyumri, Armenia
.
, who along with his brothers, Shahe and Nar Khatchadourian, entirely sustained the activities of KOHAR and all its concerts, in tribute to, and in memory of, their late father Aram, and named the orchestra to honor their mother 'Kohar'.
KOHAR initially started as a symphony orchestra in the year 2000, playing the music of Armenia
, and other popular songs and well-known symphonies, under the helm of Creative Director and Conductor Sebouh Abcarian of Cyprus. Later the KOHAR Choir was formed to complement the work of the KOHAR Symphony Orchestra.
Consisting of over 150 musicians and 12 solo singers, along with a 15 dance-member ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra & Choir quickly grew in popularity with its initial outdoor concerts on the premises of KOHAR in Lebanon, which attracted interest and admiration from locals and overseas visitors.
and Lebanon, spread over four days. The well devised repertoire served as a distinctive cultural experience, drawing more than 4000 people to BIEL, downtown Beirut, which transformed the hall into a scenic, memorable and glorifying moment for Armenian musical history. According to media, the collection of traditional & popular songs "drew many into tears of nostalgia, reminiscence and pride".
KOHAR’s triumphs continued from one capital to another, and on 28th & 29th April 2006, the Grand Hall of the Kremlin
, Moscow, witnessed unprecedented enthusiasm, when almost 12000 Armenian, Russian and foreign audiences, relished KOHAR’s unique performance for the first time. It was a widely publicized rare appearance by an Armenian Orchestra in Russia, which was highly successful with the Russian audience.
KOHAR made its North American debut at the end of 2007, and conquered the major cities of the USA and Canada. The North American Tour of KOHAR began on October 18th, 2007 in Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Toronto and Montreal, before ending with the conquering of New York’s Carnegie
Hall on November 20, 2007.
KOHAR has continued to spread its message when touring the middle-east , commencing with the Syrian Arab Republic, and a first appearance on July 9th, 2009, at http://www.opera-syria.org/en/ The Opera Theater of Damascus, followed by successful performances on the 15th, 16th and 17th July 2009, within the ancient fortress of the renowned world-heritage site of the "Citadel of Aleppo
".
KOHAR showcased its largest concert with Stars of Armenia at Liberty Square near the Opera House in the heart of Yerevan, Armenia on 28th May 2011.
The star-studded event brought together the most popular singers of Armenia who performed with KOHAR their much-loved songs that are admired by fans and audiences alike.
The live concert was broadcast live by Armenia’s Channel 1 TV and for the first time via Internet live stream.
Over 10,000 spectators, in addition to tens of thousands of TV and Internet viewers from Armenia and the Diaspora, were mesmerized by KOHAR’s performance of the finest tunes and the program which was dubbed as the biggest show ever performed in Armenia for its grandiose magnificent production.
KOHAR’s latest production by HAYASA Productions LTD of Cyprus and Domino Production of Armenia boasted a superb 3D mapping and projection on the façade of the Opera House of images that transposed into Armenia’s unyielding history from Noah’s Ark to its national symbol Ararad, its rich Alphabet – the Ayp Pen Kim – reaching historic Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.
The culmination of the night was the performance of the song “Babenagan Guiliguia,” which topped the charts in Armenia as the Number 1 song for 8 consecutive weeks. Together with KOHAR, the audience joined in the performance waving more than 3000 flags of Kingdom of Cilicia that were distributed by the organizers. A similar enthusiasm from the audience erupted with the song “Veraganknir Guiliguia,” which has become KOHAR’s anthem.
The Anoush Achievement Award - The Seventh Annual Armenian Music Awards, held at the Hollywood Palladium, California (2005)
. Aiming at reviving and promulgating the Armenian alphabet
and culture, and bringing its share to preserving Armenian heritage for future generations at home and abroad.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
History
KOHAR was founded in 1997 as an independent musical and cultural institution by the Armenian culture patron Harout Khatchadourian of LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, who along with his brothers, Shahe and Nar Khatchadourian, entirely sustained the activities of KOHAR and all its concerts, in tribute to, and in memory of, their late father Aram, and named the orchestra to honor their mother 'Kohar'.
KOHAR initially started as a symphony orchestra in the year 2000, playing the music of Armenia
Music of Armenia
Armenia is situated close to the Caucasus Mountains, and its music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop, and extensive Christian music, due to Armenia's status as the oldest Christian nation in the...
, and other popular songs and well-known symphonies, under the helm of Creative Director and Conductor Sebouh Abcarian of Cyprus. Later the KOHAR Choir was formed to complement the work of the KOHAR Symphony Orchestra.
Consisting of over 150 musicians and 12 solo singers, along with a 15 dance-member ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra & Choir quickly grew in popularity with its initial outdoor concerts on the premises of KOHAR in Lebanon, which attracted interest and admiration from locals and overseas visitors.
Break Out Tours
KOHAR’s first major concert tour 'All Time Armenian Favourites', took place in the summer of 2002, in CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Lebanon, spread over four days. The well devised repertoire served as a distinctive cultural experience, drawing more than 4000 people to BIEL, downtown Beirut, which transformed the hall into a scenic, memorable and glorifying moment for Armenian musical history. According to media, the collection of traditional & popular songs "drew many into tears of nostalgia, reminiscence and pride".
International Success
In October 2005, it was the turn for Istanbul, Turkey, to enjoy KOHAR’s “http://www.koharconcert.com All Time Armenian Favorites” Tour. On October 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, the concert was held at Lutfi Kirdar Concert Hall, with more than 7000 Armenians, and visiting audiences from Istanbul and the suburbs, and from as far away as Adana province attending.KOHAR’s triumphs continued from one capital to another, and on 28th & 29th April 2006, the Grand Hall of the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
, Moscow, witnessed unprecedented enthusiasm, when almost 12000 Armenian, Russian and foreign audiences, relished KOHAR’s unique performance for the first time. It was a widely publicized rare appearance by an Armenian Orchestra in Russia, which was highly successful with the Russian audience.
KOHAR made its North American debut at the end of 2007, and conquered the major cities of the USA and Canada. The North American Tour of KOHAR began on October 18th, 2007 in Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Toronto and Montreal, before ending with the conquering of New York’s Carnegie
Carnegie
Carnegie may refer to:*Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist, for whom many entries on this page are named*Dale Carnegie, motivational speaker and author*David Carnegie , Scottish-Swedish industrialist...
Hall on November 20, 2007.
KOHAR has continued to spread its message when touring the middle-east , commencing with the Syrian Arab Republic, and a first appearance on July 9th, 2009, at http://www.opera-syria.org/en/ The Opera Theater of Damascus, followed by successful performances on the 15th, 16th and 17th July 2009, within the ancient fortress of the renowned world-heritage site of the "Citadel of Aleppo
Citadel of Aleppo
The Citadel of Aleppo is a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, northern Syria. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC...
".
KOHAR showcased its largest concert with Stars of Armenia at Liberty Square near the Opera House in the heart of Yerevan, Armenia on 28th May 2011.
The star-studded event brought together the most popular singers of Armenia who performed with KOHAR their much-loved songs that are admired by fans and audiences alike.
The live concert was broadcast live by Armenia’s Channel 1 TV and for the first time via Internet live stream.
Over 10,000 spectators, in addition to tens of thousands of TV and Internet viewers from Armenia and the Diaspora, were mesmerized by KOHAR’s performance of the finest tunes and the program which was dubbed as the biggest show ever performed in Armenia for its grandiose magnificent production.
KOHAR’s latest production by HAYASA Productions LTD of Cyprus and Domino Production of Armenia boasted a superb 3D mapping and projection on the façade of the Opera House of images that transposed into Armenia’s unyielding history from Noah’s Ark to its national symbol Ararad, its rich Alphabet – the Ayp Pen Kim – reaching historic Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.
The culmination of the night was the performance of the song “Babenagan Guiliguia,” which topped the charts in Armenia as the Number 1 song for 8 consecutive weeks. Together with KOHAR, the audience joined in the performance waving more than 3000 flags of Kingdom of Cilicia that were distributed by the organizers. A similar enthusiasm from the audience erupted with the song “Veraganknir Guiliguia,” which has become KOHAR’s anthem.
Awards
Intermedia Award - http://www.worldmediafestival.com World Media Festival in Hamburg,Germany (2004)The Anoush Achievement Award - The Seventh Annual Armenian Music Awards, held at the Hollywood Palladium, California (2005)
Acknowlegments
Patron of Armenian culture, Harout Khatchadourian of Lebanon, was awarded at the presidential palace with the “Movses Khorenatsi” medal by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia on 17th September for his decades of continuous and dedicated cultural contribution in different Armenian Diasporas in safeguarding and promulgating Armenian music, song, culture, Ayp Pen Kim’s (Armenian alphabet).The future
During the course of its existence, KOHAR has become an important cornerstone, with its unique musical renditions of Armenia's favorite songs, for the Armenian DiasporaArmenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
. Aiming at reviving and promulgating the Armenian alphabet
Armenian alphabet
The Armenian alphabet is an alphabet that has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406. It was devised by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader, and contained originally 36 letters. Two more letters, օ and ֆ, were added in the Middle Ages...
and culture, and bringing its share to preserving Armenian heritage for future generations at home and abroad.