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The Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan will host the opening concert of the 15th jubilee season of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra (ASSO) on Tuesday, September 15, its artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan told a news conference on Monday.

Summing up the 14th concert season of the orchestra, the conductor said that it was pretty eventful, as they performed 51 concerts and played more than 190 compositions, including pieces written especially for the orchestra. They also shared the stage with brilliant soloists, Smbatyan said.

He noted that 100 out of 190 music pieces performed by the orchestra have been composed by Armenians. "The mission of our symphony orchestra is not only to perform many famous works, but also to motivate Armenian composers, which they have succeeded in," the conductor said.

In Smbatyan’s words, 50 concerts, three very important concert tours, two very big and important recording projects, as well three festivals are planned during the 15th season.

"The most important thing for us is that the 15th concert season of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia will start at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex tomorrow,” he said, adding the concert program features three pieces from "The Snow Queen" ballet by prominent Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian.

"We no longer imagine our life without the maestro," said the ASSO artistic director.

Mansurian, who was present at the press conference too, said that seven prayers from “Confessing with Faith” based on a collection of prayers written by famous Armenian priest Nerses Shnorhali, were initially set to be performed at tomorrow’s concert.

"Unfortunately, it requires a large choir. These days, it is not possible to bring 90 members of [Hovhannes] Chekidjian’s Academic Choir together on one stage and perform [the prayers]. We are going to do it in the near future," the maestro noted.

Mansurian said that the joint programs with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra are entering a new phase, stressing he enjoys working with young musicians.

"I am committed to all potent forces, that promise a bright future and development of music life," Mansurian said.

Director of the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, Karen Ghazaryan, said, in turn, that one of their priorities was for the State Symphony Orchestra to find its place in the concert hall, so that the complex would become a home for the orchestra and serve as a platform for delivering good music.

Also, he added that the concert hall is ready to welcome audiences, with social distancing guidelines in place.