The Presentation of the First English-Language Book About Babadjanian Took Place in the Presence of His Admirers (Photos)

This first comprehensive and scholarly study in English offers an in-depth exploration of the virtuoso pianist Arno Babadjanian’s life and music, enriched with archival materials, personal letters, and professional analyses.

Nuné Melikyan’s work is the culmination of many years of research. Captivated by Babadjanian’s music from an early age, she eventually decided to share the composer’s exceptional creative journey with the world after reaching great professional heights in her own field.

“I first heard Babadjanian when I was five years old, and my sister played his music at my grandmother’s house. I remember loving it and wanting to know who the composer was. When I moved to Montreal at the age of 19, his music became a source of comfort, connecting me to my family and homeland. His works felt like a healing balm. Babadjanian once said that he didn’t want to repeat himself, and when we look at his music, we see that indeed, there is no repetition in any of his compositions.”

Aram Satyan, Honored Artist and Chairman of the Union of Compsers of Armenia, spoke at the presentation about Babadjanian not only as a composer but also as a remarkable human being.

“He was an incredibly humble person who never liked being elevated above others. He was a brilliant pianist. When the Dilijan Composers' House opened, we were children, and we would often stand under his balcony, listening to him play.”

The foreword to “Arno Babadjanian: An Armenian Beat in Soviet Time” was written by Professor Anna Asatryan, Director of the NAS Institute of Arts. She emphasized the importance of this publication:

“I want to congratulate Dr. Melikyan for writing the first English-language scientific work on Babadjanian. It was long overdue for such a book to exist.”

Nuné Melikyan, who is in Armenia for her book tour, will also be presenting the book to students at various musical institutions in the coming days.

The book “Arno Babadjanian: An Armenian Beat in Soviet Time” is available for purchase on the newmag.am website and in bookstores.