Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian in Concert October 4, 2008

San Francisco Performances presents soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra in unique concert featuring the works of Armenian national composer Gomidas Vartabed at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 4 at the Herbst Theatre.
Also on the program are Bartok's "Romanian Folk Dances" and Ravel's "Deux Melodies Hebraiques," as well as works by Nikos Skalkottas and Gideon Klein. In addition to the Orchestra, Bayrakdarian will be joined by her husband, pianist Serouj Kradjian (who arranged several of the evening's works) and Hampic Djabourian, who plays the "duduk," an Armenian folk instrument.

"Our aim was to create a program woven around Gomidas's folk songs and relating to the music and culture of all persecuted nations," Bayrakdarian commented. "For example, Ravel's 'Kaddish,' which is a prayer from the Jewish liturgy of profound beauty ... combined with the folk dances of the Greek composer Skalkottas, make for a very complementary framework for Gomidas's songs of yearning, sorrow, joy and humor."

Last spring, the vocalist starred in Cleopatra-themed program with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. In addition to having sung key roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Houston Grand Opera and elsewhere, she is featured on the Grammy-winning soundtrack of the blockbuster film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and also contributed vocals for the Canadian film "Ararat."

A Canadian citizen born in Lebanon, Bayrakdarian is the subject of a Canadian TV film, "A Long Journey Home," which documents her first trip to Armenia. On another recent trip there, she recorded a disc of songs by Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935) with Kradjian and the Armenian Philharmonic that is available on the Nonesuch label.

The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra will be directed by Anne Manson, one of only three women to have been appointed music director of a leading American symphony -- the Kansas City Symphony, which she directed from 1999-2003.

$65/$40.

Official Website: http://www.performances.org