Renowned Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan continues his “Light in the Morning” concert tour in different cities of Turkey. On June 30, Hamasyan and the National Chamber Choir of Armenia gave another concert at the Aya Irini Museum of Istanbul, which was held as part of the 22^nd Istanbul Jazz Festival. In an article entitled “He Probably Cast A Spell On Us”, Turkey’s Radikal reflected on Hamasyan’s performances, as well as how his performances excited and inspired audiences, reports ermenihaber.am.

“With unique interpretations of 5^th-19^th– century traditional Armenian songs, he probably cast a spell on all of us. It’s quite hard to try to describe this music in words. Hamasyan is a miracle worker. First, you feel your soul grow and feel like you’re in the universe. You become one with everyone. Then, he immediately brings you out of that situation, you come to your senses, and it seems as though you have woken up after a long sleep. You understand that you were flowing with the music…Hamasyan the miracle worker uses music to cleanse the soul of the audience,” writes Radikal’s correspondent Guldehan Aysen.

Touching upon Hamasyan’s musical career and mentioning the fact that the gifted musician released his first album at the age of 18, the newspaper reports that on one occasion, The Guardian had referred to Hamasyan as “a pianist that conveyed the air of Armenians to jazz”.

“Hamasyan, who has performed with masters like Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and Herby Hancock, has been lucky enough to hear Hancock say “you are my teacher” at a young age,” writes the Turkish newspaper.

Guldehan Aysen also says he admires Armenia’s National Chamber Choir and emphasizes that the singers’ voices serve as the best synthesis with Hamasyan’s music.

“Of course, we also shouldn’t forget the role of the soloists of Harutyun Topikyan’s Yerevan State Chamber Choir. When that soprano “of crystal clear voices” was heard in the truest sense of the word, everyone in the audience stayed rock solid for a moment.”