Stéphan Elmas - Chopin of Armenia (Heghine Rapyan)

Information

Composer: Stéphan Elmas

1. Mazurka No. 4 in E Major
2. Berceuse No. 1 in E-Flat Major
3. Berceuse No. 2 in A Major
4. Valse No. 1 in E-Flat Major
5. Valse No. 8 in D-Flat Major
6. Nocturne No. 3 in G-Sharp Minor
7. Nocturne No. 5 in G-Flat Major
8. Nocturne No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor
9. 6 Preludes: No. 1, Moderato
10. 6 Preludes: No. 2, Andante
11. 6 Preludes: No. 3, Allegro
12. 6 Preludes: No. 4, Moderato
13. 6 Preludes: No. 5, Agitato
14. 6 Preludes: No. 6, Lento
15. Scherzo No. 1 in C Minor
16. Fantasie-polonaise in D-Flat Major

Heghine Rapyan, piano

Date: 2025

Label: Solo Musica

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In 2023, Armenian pianist Heghine Rapyan released her debut album on Solo Musica, featuring the complete piano sonatas of Stephan Elmas in their world premiere recording. Widely praised by international critics, the album revived interest in Elmas, often called the “Chopin of Armenia.” With her second CD, Rapyan continues to champion Elmas’s Romantic legacy, performing mazurkas, waltzes, scherzos, preludes, nocturnes, and a polonaise—genres beloved by Chopin but marked by Elmas’s unique emotional depth. Many of these works are recorded for the first time, representing Rapyan’s joyful discovery of a forgotten Romantic voice.

Heghine Rapyan (b. 1985) is an acclaimed Armenian pianist celebrated for her expressive artistry, interpretive depth, and international reach. Beginning her career at sixteen with tours across Europe and early competition success, she has since performed in major venues from Athens and Beijing to Düsseldorf, collaborating with renowned orchestras and conductors. A prizewinner in multiple international competitions, Rapyan studied with leading pianists and was deeply influenced by Austrian legend Ingrid Haebler. Her 2023 debut album The Soul of Smyrna (Solo Musica/Naxos), featuring Stéphan Elmas’s complete piano sonatas, earned global acclaim and major awards. In 2025, she debuted as a composer with The Untouchable, marking a new creative chapter.

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