YEREVAN – The golden hues of autumn 2025 were accompanied by harmonies of Armenian classical melodies as the National Chamber Orchestra of Arme-nia, under the artistic direction of the London-based conductor and tenor Maestro Sipan Olah, embarked on a remarkable international concert tour. With performances across Armenia, France, and the United States, the tour became one of the most significant cultural events of the year, celebrating Armenian artistry, heritage, and musical excellence.
Supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, and organized in cooperation with the Yerevan National Chamber Music Center, NCOA, HI-AM USA, and more than 15 international cultural organizations, the tour consisted of seven large-scale concerts that captivated thousands of listeners on three continents.
The tour commenced on September 16, 2025, at the Komitas Chamber MuThe tour commenced on September 16, 2025, at the Komitas Chamber Music House in Yerevan. The opening concert featured an exclusive repertoire of Armenian composers — Ghazaros Saryan, Alexander Harutyunyan, Vagharshak Kotoyan, Konstantin Petrosyan, Edgar Hovhannisyan, Aram Khachaturian, and Charles Aznavour – symbolizing the richness of Armenia’s musical legacy.
Dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the legendary painter Martiros Saryan, the evening also included a special exhibition of 18 replica paintings from the artist’s house-museum, presented by his family. The concert hall was filled to capacity, welcoming ambassadors from seven countries, representatives of Ministry of Ed-ucation, Science, Culture and Sports, the Komitas State Conservatory, museum directors, and art connoisseurs.
The audience responded with enthusiastic applause, celebrating not only the orchestra’s masterful interpretations but also Sipan Olah’s ability to merge visual art and music into a seamless national tribute.
The tour continued on September 25 at the Cathedral of La Madeleine in Paris one of the most iconic churches in France. It marked the first large-scale Armenian concert in this grand cathedral. This was the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia return to Paris after a 13-year break. Conducted by Maestro Sipan Olah, and joined by soloists Hayarpi Yeghikyan (soprano), Hagob Mouradian (oboe), and Sona Barseghyan (piano), the orchestra enchanted over 1,100 attendees with works by Komitas, Tigran Mansurian, Robert Amirkhanyan, Aram Khachaturian, and Charles Aznavour.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Armenia in France, under the auspices of the Friends of the Embassy Association, Ambassador Arman Kha-chaturian, in collaboration with AGBU France – Director Nadia Gortsounian.
Among the distinguished guests were ambassadors from eleven countries, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture Daniel Danielian, French government officials, clergy from various Christian denominations, and members of the French-Arme-nian community.
This unforgettable evening reaffirmed the deep cultural bond between Armenia and France and highlighted the universality of Armenian music.
The orchestra’s American journey began on September 28 at the Kirkland Concert Hall in Seattle, Washington marking the first-ever performance by an Armenian orchestra in the city. Organized by the Armenian Cultural Association of Washington, the event drew more than 500 attendees, including city council members, representatives of educational institutions, and a 22-member delegation from Vancouver, Canada. The audience was moved by the vibrant renditions of works by Komitas, Mansurian, Amirkhanyan, Khachaturian, and Aznavour, showcasing the timeless beauty of Armenian composition.
The following evening, September 29, the orchestra performed at the Clark Library Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada. This concert, organized by the Armenian American Cultural Society of Las Vegas, was also a historic first for the Armenian community there. Soloists Hayarpi Yeghikyan, Astghik Vardanyan and Sona Barseghyan joined Maestro Sipan Olah to present an all-Armenian program before an audience of over 400 guests, including cultural representatives, clergy, and the Georgian Consul in Las Vegas.