Saturday, 5 December 2026, 17:00 (doors open 16:30)

Fragments of the East: Armenian Echoes between Vienna and Paris
A musical journey from Armenia into Europe.

Mauro Iurato (violin)
Maurizio Redegoso Kharitian (viola)
Giuseppe Mariotti (piano)

The journey begins with Gurdjieff, whose memories of Caucasian song became music like a quiet prayer. Next come three pieces by Komitas, the father of Armenian music, who walked from village to village collecting thousands of folk songs. Among them is “Krunk” (The Crane). Hearing these songs in Paris, Debussy is said to have remarked, “Even a single melody is enough to show that Komitas is a great artist.” “La fille aux cheveux de lin” is a musical bridge between Paris and Armenia. The Armenian spirit lives on in the Armenian-American composer Hovhaness.
Austria, Österreich, means “the Eastern realm,” and Vienna has long been Europe’s gateway to the East. From Vienna comes Mozart, followed by duets by Rolla, the brilliant viola virtuoso of Milan.
East and West may be closer than we think. What the music of every people shares is song.

Why Armenia?
For this concert, we are delighted to welcome violist Maurizio Kharitian from Turin. Through his mother’s family, Maurizio has Armenian roots, and he knows Armenian traditions and music deeply. Art born in Armenia went on to reach central Europe, to Vienna and to Paris. Armenia may still feel unfamiliar to many of us. Yet the melodies in this concert will sound beautiful and somehow familiar. And I believe that you, here in Japan, another land of the East, will respond naturally to the source of this music that travelled west.

Venue: Multipurpose Room, 1st floor, Kobe Chuo Bunka Center
Tickets: General ¥2,500 / Students ¥1,500
Student tickets are for elementary, junior high and high school students. For preschool children, please contact us.
Bookings: At the Chuo Bunka Center counter, by phone, or online
Kobe Chuo Bunka Center, Tel. 078-381-7899

https://www.kobe-bunka.jp/facilities/chuo/regularconcert-6/