The Armenian-American pianist Kariné Poghosyan will be showcased as part of Chicago’s PianoForte Foundation’s esteemed Pianoforte Salon Series on March 12, 2016.

Poghosyan’s program, inspired by folk songs and titled “Folk Inspirations,” will begin with Edvard Grieg’s Three Selections from Lyric Pieces – To Spring,Minuet: Vanished Days and Wedding Day at Troldhaugen – followed by Three Hungarian Rhapsodies by Franz Liszt.

Poghosyan,a leading interpreter of music from her native country, will be showcasing the music of the revered Armenian composer Komitas Vardapet (1869 – 1935),who is considered to be the founder of the Armenian National School of Music and also recognized as one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology. To begin the program’s second half, she will be performing three selections from his rarely heard Six Dances for Piano from 1906.

The program will end with three movements from Stravinsky’s Petrouchka – Danse Russe, Chez Petrouchka, and La Semaine Grasse.

Poghosyan states the following for her program’s inspiration, “The Armenian great composer and ethnomusicologist Komitas Vardapet once said, “Every nation’s greatest creators are its people; go and learn from them.” This is the concept that has inspired many composers throughout the history of music. And it is this concept that will be the basis of my solo program “Folk Inspirations."

Thomas Zoells, Executive Director of the PianoForte Foundation says, “We are thrilled to present the return of Kariné Poghosyan after her all-Khachaturian recital this past September, which so impressed our Chicago audiences. This is an artist that we want to hear in Chicago on a regular basis!”

The PianoForte Foundation is dedicated to presenting and promoting the art of the piano in Chicago and creating a vibrant music community that closely connects audiences and artists. The Foundation brings excitement and appreciation for piano music to a diverse audience through high-quality concerts, festivals, competitions, education, outreach and public broadcasts.