Armenians worldwide Arts & culture

Naghash Ensemble to Tour 11 Cities Across the United States

Armenia's Naghash Ensemble performs original music written on the basis of poems by the medieval Armenian poet and priest Mkrtich Naghash. According to an interview given to The Armenian Weekly, the ensemble is now touring 11 cities in the US. The ensemble's founder is the composer John Hodian, who is originally from Philadelphia. About 20 years ago he moved to Yerevan, and it was there that he was inspired by the singing of the soprano Hasmik Aghdasaryan. Thus, medieval Armenian poetry is gaining a new musical life on American stages.