Heghine Rapyan - Chopin of Armenia: Stephan Elmas (2025) [Hi-Res]

In 2023, the Armenian pianist Heghine Rapyan released on the Label Solo Musica her debut album featuring the complete piano sonatas of Stephan Elmas, presented as a world premiere. The international press and critics quickly showed immense interest in this beautiful and long-overlooked music. Stephan Elmas has often been referred to as the “Chopin of Armenia.”With this second CD, she continues this mission with great responsibility – bringing to light Elmas’s legacy as a true Romantic composer in the spirit of Chopin. This album includes musical genres cherished by Frédéric Chopin, such as mazurkas, waltzes, scherzos, preludes, nocturnes, and a polonaise. These works reflect the poetic breath of Chopin, yet are infused with the individuality and emotional depth of Stephan Elmas.Several of the pieces on this recording are being performed and recorded for the very first time. It was a moment of great joy for the artist to work on this hidden jewel of musical literature–truly a journey of discovery, where I felt the thrill of unveiling a forgotten voice from the Romantic era.