The British Armenian Society presents, acclaimed  Armenian violinist Nikolay Madoyan. Nikolay has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including London’s Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Milan’s Verdi Theater, Berlin’s Kammermusiksaal, Edinburgh’s Queen's Hall, Vienna’s Kammermusiksaal and many more.

Madoyan has toured the United Kingdom with the London Sinfonietta, led by conductor Richard Hickox, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Gilbert Varga, and the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tamás Vásáry. He has also collaborated with other renowned orchestras, such as the Mariinsky Orchestra, Concertgebouw Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo NHK Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Residentie Orkest the Hague, St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Tivoli Symphony Orchestra, and Danish Radio Orchestra. 

Madoyan has also worked with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors, including Kurt Masur, Claudio Abbado, Arnold Katz, Valery Gergiev, Leopold Hager, Martin Andre, Erich Vechter, George A. Albrecht, and Janos Furst, among many others.

Recent highlights include a variety of recital concerts, Nikolay's tour in Germany alongside conductor Philipp Amelung and NCOA, as well as his tour in Italy with conductor Gianluca Marciano and the Senocrito Festival Orchestra. Madoyan has also embarked on a world tour performing all 24 Caprices by Niccolò Paganini in prestigious venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, where he received a standing ovation, with his next performance at Sala Verdi.

Nikolay Madoyan recorded albums with Danish record labels Cowbell Music and Kontrapunkt, which received critical acclaim in the European press, including The Strad and Gramophone. In 2023, Madoyan made his mark with the debut album Armenian Brilliance, released by Naxos Records. The album garnered acclaim from prominent critics, including the BBC, Pizzicato, and American Record Guide.

Madoyan plays a Guarneri violin made in the early 18th century.

About the Programme   

The audience will embark on an incredible journey through the depths of violin virtuosity, spanning centuries, cultures, and genres. Each piece will offer a unique emotional experience by telling a unique story through the expressive voice of the violin. 

The evening will begin with Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst’s Grand Caprice on Schubert's Der Erlkönig (1854), a stunning transformation of Schubert’s eerie song into a brilliant display of violin technique. 

Next will be Aram Ilyich Khachaturian’s Sonata-Monologue (1975), a profound and introspective work that unfolds like a single, unbroken monologue. With emotional contrasts ranging from intense drama to delicate moments of reflection, Khachaturian’s ability to merge classical structure with Armenian folk influences creates a deeply personal and evocative experience.

Following that, Fritz Kreisler’s Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice (1910) offers a delightful blend of lyrical storytelling and virtuosic display. The expressive recitative gives way to a playful scherzo, filled with intricate passages that showcase Kreisler’s brilliance in combining emotional depth with technical virtuosity.

Then, Komitas Vardapet’s Tsirani Tsar/Apricot Tree (1902-06) will bring the audience to the heart of Armenian folk traditions. With its flowing, lyrical lines, this piece evokes the image of an apricot tree in bloom, capturing the beauty of the Armenian landscape and Komitas’s deep connection to his cultural heritage. 

Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice #24 (1818 ant.), one of the most famous and challenging works in the violin repertoire, follows. Paganini’s extraordinary technical demands push the limits of the violin with rapid runs, complex double stops, and intricate bowing techniques that have influenced generations of violinists. This piece remains a true benchmark of virtuosity.

After the interval, the program continues with Tsolak Bekaryan’s Sonata No. 2, 1st movement – Grave (1972). This deeply expressive piece begins with a dramatic and somber movement, filled with dark, brooding lines. Bekaryan’s contemporary voice, which blends modernism with traditional elements, provides a powerful meditation on solitude, offering both performer and audience a deeply reflective experience.

Next will be Max Reger’s Prelude and Fugue No. 6 in D minor (1909/12), with sweeping, lyrical lines in the prelude, followed by the rigor and complexity of the fugue. This work showcases Reger’s mastery of counterpoint, rooted in Bach’s tradition yet marked by his own unique harmonic language.

Yervand Yerkanyan’s To Be a Slave of Caprices (2001) is a modern exploration of virtuosity that pushes the boundaries of violin technique. The piece oscillates between intricate, rapid passages and moments of intense silence, taking both the performer and the audience on an emotional and technical journey. Yerkanyan’s composition challenges conventions while offering a deep and emotional experience.

Finally, the program will conclude with Niccolò Paganini’s Introduction and Variations on the Theme “Nel cor più non mi sento” from the opera La Molinara by Giovanni Paisiello (1827). Paganini transforms Paisiello’s simple melody into a dazzling display of violin technique, with variations that grow in complexity and ornamentation while retaining the charm of the original theme.