An orchestra goes all out for Christmas

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra will present a Christmas Programme with conductor Jens Georg Bachmann and soloists Sona Gargaloyan (soprano) and Alex Moskofian (baritone) in three cities next week.

Armenian-born Gargaloyan began her piano lessons at the age of seven. She studied at the Komitas State Conservatoire in Yerevan under the famous soprano, Professor Gohar Gasparian, obtaining the Master Diploma with distinction. Following a decision by the Examination Committee she was named “Opera and Concert Soloist and Singing Professor”. She has given concerts Germany, Italy, Malta, France and Greece and she has represented Cyprus in Valetta and in the main hall of UNESCO in Paris.

Skofian studied lyrical singing at the Yerevan State Conservatory from where he graduated in 2011. He made his professional debut with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in an Italian opera gala in 2013. In the same year, he also made his operatic debut in the role of Belcore in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at the 15th Pafos Aphrodite Festival. His orchestral concert highlights include Dvorak’s Te Deum with the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra and Mikis Theodorakis’ cantata Epifania Averof, as well as numerous recitals, specialising in Russian Romances, German Lied and Armenian songs.

As the saying goes – well for musicians anyway – Christmas and music belong together. So, as the season is right, the orchestra together with the two soloists will perform Johann Sebasitan Bach’s Excerpts from Cantata no. 51/BWV 51 Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sleigh ride (German Dances, K. 605), Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sinfonia in G major from Christmas Oratorio, Old American songs by Aaron Copland, Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson, Mozart’s Excerpts from Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165, Ave Marie by Giulio Cuccini, Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck, the Little Drummer Boy by Katherine Kennicott Davis, Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont, Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber and a selection of Cypriot carols.

Christmas Concert
Performance by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and soloists Sona Gargaloyan and Alex Moskoflan. December 20. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. €3/5/7/12. Tel: 22-463144
December 21. Municipal Theatre, Larnaca. 8.30pm. €3/5/7/12. Tel: 22-463144
December 22. Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €3/5/7/12. Tel: 22-463144

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