By Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil Intercultural
Born in San Francisco to Russian and Armenian emigré parents, Constantine Orbelian made his debut as a piano prodigy with the San Francisco Symphony at the age of 11. After graduating from The Juilliard School, he embarked on a career as a piano virtuoso that included appearances with major symphony orchestras throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Russia.
Maestro Orbelian, who currently serves as the General and Artistic Director of the New York City Opera, continues to serve as the Principal Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra in Lithuania. He has collaborated with top world class artists including superstars Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Elina Garanca, Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufman, Sondra Radvanovsky, Isabel Leonard, Stephen Costello, Lawrence Brownlee and Sarah Coburn, Barbara Frittoli and Joseph Calleja, pianists Daniil Trifonov, Anne Marie McDermott, and even the beloved iconic pianist Van Cliburn in his final performance. He has performed on the world’s finest stages, most recently at Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall celebrating the music of Weinberg, Korngold and Rovner with the brilliant cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper.
Recently, Maestro Orbelian was appointed as the New Music Director of the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva, making his debut performance this month. For many years, he has sought to work within a musical institution in Israel; to be close to the audience and to bring his many colleagues to Israel. His recording legacy is historic with over 80 CDs on the DELOS label. Previously, he served as the Music Director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the General Director and Music Director of the Yerevan State Opera and Ballet Theater in Armenia.
Constantine Orbelian | Conductor • Pianist
Dr. Laura Wilhelm had the exclusive privilege of interviewing the legendary conductor.
What are some of your top priorities for your new role at the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva Orchestra?
First of all, I always find it interesting and challenging to plan seasons with my orchestra; this one is no exception. I just conducted my first concert with the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva Orchestra and introduced the orchestra and the audience to a great Italian saxophone player Federico Mondelci, along with a fantastic Israeli Pianist Dorel Golan. This program in particular featured Dorel performing the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, which was performed by Leonard Bernstein (as pianist) back in 1948. All of my concerts will feature interesting repertoires that have not been performed in Beer Sheva and artists who will be making their debuts in Israel.
How does American musical culture differ from that of other places where you have worked?
It really doesn’t. Great music in ‘Great Music’ everywhere. When we perform the music of the masters- Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Puccini etc… it’s the music and the emotional content of the music that enters the heart and soul of the audience. Ethnic musical culture- which every country has is a bit different- but, we all know that our American musical culture has permeated the entire world and everyone loves the arias, songs and ensembles from American musicals… and, everything is in English which is also an added bonus, so nogreat language barriers.
You have collaborated with some of the world’s top musical talents. Who else would you like to add to the list?
I am always thrilled to work with my esteemed colleagues like Renee Fleming, Asmik Grigorian, Nadine Sierra, Jonathan Tetelman, Dmytro Popov, and others. And I love to be able to discover new talents on the scene like Armenian soprano Tatev Baroyan, Lithuanian soprano Gabriele Bukine, and we’ll see who the next star will be. I am not only working with the top singers in the world, but, also with the top young instrumentalists like Alisa Sadikova, the most amazing harpist I have ever heard, who is currently in the master’s degree program at the Juilliard School of Music, Kiron Atom Tellian, an incredible Austrian pianist who is also at the Juilliard School of Music, and the most incredible accordion player, Radu Ratoi from Moldova… They will all be performing with me in Israel and in Lithuania this coming season.
Do you have any plans to visit us in Los Angeles or the UK?
I certainly hope to be visiting and performing in LA and the UK very soon… plans are being discussed now.
Where else in the world would you like to appear?
We are looking forward to bringing the best of American composers and Americana to some major cities around the world. We are planning to do excerpts from Bernstein’s West Side Story and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess… along with presentations of the Best of American Musicals. This would be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the USA which will take place in 2026…. next year.