PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES
Pianist Heghine Rapyan's journey in classical music is shaped by extraordinary talent, unwavering dedication, and profound artistic insight. With a distinctive voice at the piano and exceptional interpretive depth, she has captivated audiences around the world with the intensity and honesty of her piano performance.
Heghine’s album, The Soul of Smyrna—featuring the complete piano sonatas of Stéphan Elmas—was released in April 2023 as a world premiere by Solo Musica/Naxos. The recording garnered widespread acclaim and marked a major milestone in her artistic career. Lauded by leading European and American classical music critics and broadcasters—including WDR and hr2 in Germany, and SRF in Switzerland—the album positioned her as a significant interpreter of lesser-known repertoire. BBC Music Magazine described it as “excellent” and “a sensational discovery,” praising the conviction and depth of her playing. American Record Guide reviewer Bruno Repp listed it among the Best CDs of 2023.
In 2025, Rapyan made her debut as a composer with the album ‘The Untouchable, presenting a bold and deeply personal artistic statement that expands her musical identity beyond interpretation into original creation.
Heghine’s musical path began early. At the age of sixteen, she embarked on her first international tour through Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. That same year, she won the Kawai Artist Prize at the 2001 Armenian Legacy International Piano Competition in Yerevan—an early success that brought her international recognition.
Since then, her career has flourished through solo recitals at distinguished venues and appearances at major festivals. She has performed in prestigious halls such as the Megaron Hall in Athens, the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, and the Rudolf Oetker Halle in Bielefeld. Her reach extends across Asia with appearances at Beijing Concert Hall, Poly Shanghai City Theater, and Shenzhen Concert Hall, as well as in Europe at Teatro Politeama in Palermo. A close collaboration with the Austrian Cultural Forum has enabled her to share the works of Austrian composers with audiences throughout Europe.
Sinfonia Toronto now in its 28th season, has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews. It has released six CD’s, including a JUNO Award winner, and performs in many Ontario cities. Its extensive repertoire includes all the major string orchestra works of the 18th through 21st centuries, and it has premiered many new works. Under the baton of Nurhan Arman the orchestra’s performances present outstanding international guest artists and prominent Canadian musicians.
Maestro Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning regularly to many orchestras in Europe. Among the orchestras Maestro Arman has conducted are the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, Filarmonica Italiana, Orchestra Sinfonico di Roma, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Regional d’Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Arpeggione Kammerorchester, Milano Classica and Belgrade Philharmonic.
PROGRAM NOTES
