On Friday, January 22, Oakland East Bay Symphony will present a concert featuring music from Armenia, presenting works by both popular and less well-known composers.

The dynamic, melodic Violin Concerto by famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian will feature the brilliant young Siberian-born violinist Mikhail Simonyan, who at 23 is already recognized as one of the most celebrated talents of his generation. The New York Times said that “Simonyan brought breadth, lyricism and fleet technique to this ruminative, extravagantly scored music. He played as if every note counted.”

The orchestra, conducted by Maestro Michael Morgan, will also play Edvard Mirzoyan’s exciting Symphony for Timpani and String Orchestra and Lazar Saryan’s Panel Armenia, which was inspired by the paintings of the composer’s father, the great Armenian painter Martiros Saryan. Local Armenian choirs will join the orchestra to perform choral works by Armenian composers -- including Erebuni Yerevan. Also on the program will be Mozart’s powerful “Prague Symphony.”

For tickets, visit www.oebs.org, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, or go to the Paramount Box Office in person (no service charge at window). Groups of 10 or more get 20% off! Call 510-836-1981 or email grouptix@oebs.org for details. For more information, call the Symphony office at 510-444-0801.