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Wiesbaden Musician Renews Ties to Armenia

WIESBADEN, Germany – On Sunday, September 17, solo clarinetist Heiner Rekeszus performed in a farewell concert in Wiesbaden, before going into retirement. The 65-year-old musician was co-founder of the Chamber Music Association of the Hessen State Orchestra in Wiesbaden, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
What few people know is that the idea leading to the foundation of the chamber music series was born in Armenia. It was during a concert tour of the State Orchestra in Yerevan on the anniversary of the Hessen-Armenian Friendship that the solo cellist, Stephan Breith, presented the suggestion to the director, Peter Janowsky, that a chamber music series be organized, independent of the orchestra. As recounted in a program brochure to honor the 25th jubilee, it was in “this relaxed atmosphere” in Yerevan that “organizational and bureaucratic hurdles that had been often raised” against such a proposal “disappeared into thin air. The musicians’ enthusiasm spread to Director Janowsky and the series was born.”
What even fewer people attending the concert knew is that Yerevan has become the beneficiary to a magnificent musical gift presented by Rekeszus.

Years ago, he received the estate of the Wiesbaden Kurhaus-Orchester, an orchestra which used to perform for the guests at the spa health resort here. Having learned that another Wiesbaden musician had donated musical scores to the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, Rekeszus decided to follow suit and contacted the Mirak-Weissbach Foundation, which had mediated the delivery. Just a week before his farewell concert, Rekeszus received a thank-you letter from the Conservatory, in acknowledgement of the precious gift.
A truck had just delivered seven palettes carrying over 4,000 pounds of musical scores and books to the library of the conservatory.

Truck with music books and scores for Komitas Conservatory

Boxes of scores arrive at the Yerevan conservatory.
Right: Some of the books about music donated to the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, just unpacked