 172 pages |
Baghdad Barcarolle: How Beatrice Ohanessian became Iraq's Foremost Classical Pianist
I spent many happy afternoons in conversation with Beatrice and her sister Sita in order to research this biography, a project supported by The Schubert Club (where I was then Director of Education).
This Iraqi-Armenian woman was a musical pioneer in Baghad, sent by her government to study at the London Royal Academy of Music, then continuing her studies at Juilliard on a Fulbright scholarship.
Baghdad Barcarolle was published by Nodin Press in 2008. With a shifting cast of Arab princes, diplomats, and musicians, the book depicts Ohanessian's role as informal musical ambassador for her country--through its revolution in 1958, the long Iran-Iraq War, and the hardships imposed by UN sanctions.
When Saddam Hussein wanted to reward Beatrice for being the first Iraqi woman composer, she requested a new Steinway piano! One of her compositions, The Dawn, writen in 1982 (during the Iran-Iraq War), is a musical description of a day in the life of a soldier. |
To order
|
 232 pages |
Schubert Club History
Our layout man at Nodin Press commented that this book was much more interesting than he had expected. Well, yes. It's a book to dip into, rather than one to read for a solid narrative line. There are some terrific historical photographs, along with essays by Patricia Hampl, Mary Ann Feldman, Michael Steinberg, and others. Oodles of little tidbits from the past, and plenty of humor. Read about (and see a photo!) from the underwater concert.
|
To order
|
