STAMFORD — Friends of Music of Stamford, N.Y., will close its season on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. with a performance by Pegasus: The Orchestra, presenting a vivid program of works inspired by folk traditions from around the world. The concert, titled Folk Inspirations, brings three of Pegasus’s principal musicians to the First Presbyterian Church at 96 Main Street: violinist Ariel Horowitz, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg and the ensemble’s founder and artistic director, Karén Hakobyan, on piano.
The afternoon will carry listeners across continents and musical eras, from Manuel de Falla’s intricate Spanish folk melodies to the raw, driving themes of Béla Bartók’s Romanian works. The program highlights the joyful Armenian folk influences of Aram Khachaturian, alongside Witold Lutosławski’s bold modernist reinterpretations of traditional music. Additional works by Paul Schoenfield, Francis Poulenc and Ariel Horowitz will round out the performance.
Admission is free, thanks to support from the Robinson–Broadhurst Foundation and individual donors.
Founded in 2017, Pegasus: The Orchestra has built a reputation for challenging conventional orchestral traditions through inventive programming and a commitment to emerging artists. Under Hakobyan’s leadership, the ensemble has collaborated with leading soloists, premiered new arrangements and appeared at major New York venues including Lincoln Center, Kaufman Center and the DiMenna Center, while holding residencies at the Monira Foundation and Mana Contemporary.
Hakobyan, an Armenian-American conductor, pianist and composer, is a prizewinning musician whose career began with a Carnegie Hall debut at age 17. He has since performed in major halls across Europe, Asia and the Americas, with broadcasts on WQXR, WFMT, WSKG and international radio and television outlets.
Clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg, a laureate of numerous competitions, is an alumna of Ensemble Connect, Carnegie Hall’s prestigious fellowship program, and has appeared as a soloist in prominent concert halls worldwide. Violinist and composer Ariel Horowitz, a member of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild roster, maintains an active touring schedule and is known for original works exploring themes of healing, community and liberation.
For more information, visit the Friends of Music of Stamford at friendsmusic.org
