Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian Launches East Coast Canada Tour
NEW YORK — Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian will present an innovative program at her upcoming concerts in New York City this November. Titled Ancestral Songs, Prayers and Lullabies, the collection honors a tradition started by Gomidas and continued by his students Parsegh Ganatchian and Mihran Toumajan.
Insights on Artistic Journey and Mission
In an interview with Lisa Terrizzi of the Friends of Armenian Cultural Society, who organized the Boston show, Bayrakdarian discussed her evolution from a choir girl to a globally acclaimed artist. She emphasized her dedication to uncovering, exploring, and sharing Armenian musical treasures.
Growing Up in a Musical Environment
Lisa Terrizzi (L.T.): Did you grow up in a musical household, and what attracted you specifically to voice?
Isabel Bayrakdarian (I.B.): My first love was, and still is, Armenian sacred music. Singing and exploring our beautiful, ancient hymns has been a personal journey inward, upward, and forward. I grew up playing piano and singing in our Armenian church choir in Lebanon. The only reason I started voice lessons in my late teens in Canada was to express myself freely to God through confident singing backed by solid technique.
Bayrakdarian’s program connects heritage with modern performance, offering audiences a rich experience of ancestral voices.
Isabel Bayrakdarian bridges Armenian musical traditions and contemporary artistry, enriching cultural appreciation worldwide.