World-renowned pianist captivates Armenian audience

PanARMENIAN.Net - Famed pianist Dmitry Masleev, a laureate of numerous international awards, including the first prize at the 15th Tchaikovsky International Competition, expressed his great pleasure at performing again with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

"This is my second time performing with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra. I am deeply impressed by how sensitively the musicians understand the soloist's artistic intent and how swiftly and delicately they respond," Masleev said after his performance at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, as reported by Panorama.am .

Masleev emphasized that he was delighted to be back in this remarkable venue and to reconnect with the Armenian audience.

"I eagerly look forward to my next performance," the pianist added.

The concert was conducted by Eduard Topchjan, the artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Masleev performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, which was met with great enthusiasm from the audience. The second half of the concert featured Gustav Holst's symphonic suite "The Planets", consisting of seven movements, each dedicated to a planet visible from Earth—Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

In addition to his concert, Masleev led a masterclass at the newly opened "Harmonic" hall, where he engaged with young pianists in a roundtable format. He heads the piano program at the Primavera Foundation of Armenia and regularly conducts free masterclasses in Armenia. This time, he worked with young musicians on pieces by Rachmaninoff, Schumann, and Prokofiev, sharing performance insights and inspiring them toward new artistic achievements.

The pianist noted that he was highly impressed by the young musicians’ dedication and enthusiasm.

"For just five available spots, we received 17 applications, including one from Iran—where a pianist was ready to travel to Yerevan if selected. I am truly impressed by the participants' high professional level. Most importantly, they are deeply passionate about their craft and give their absolute best," Masleev remarked.