On Thursday, October 22, the Aram Khachaturian Museum in Yerevan (Armenia) hosted a musical gathering of major significance for the international outreach of Basque culture. Pianist and researcher Josu Okiñena and violist Natalia Tchitch delivered a concert that drew extraordinary interest from the Armenian audience and forged new artistic ties between both regions. Under the title "Basque Music in Dialogue with the World," the recital offered a journey through some of the most notable works of Basque musical heritage, featuring compositions by Emiliana de Zubeldia, Aita Donostia, Jesús Guridi, Hilario Olazarán de Estella, and Maurice Ravel, underscoring the richness, diversity, and distinct character of Basque musical creation.

The program took on a particularly profound dimension thanks to the participation of two renowned Armenian performers: violinist Karen Shahgaldyan and cellist Sevak Avanesyan, who shared the stage with Okiñena and Tchitch. Performing in various chamber configurations—duos, trios, and a quartet—the musicians engaged in a genuine artistic dialogue in which the Basque repertoire was woven alongside masterpieces by European composers such as Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Far beyond its musical dimension, the concert served as an authentic cultural encounter. The warm reception from the audience, the strong interest sparked by the Basque compositions, and the close artistic chemistry among the performers turned the evening into a celebration of music as a universal language capable of uniting distinct traditions, sensibilities, and cultural identities. This initial encounter in Armenia opens fresh avenues for collaboration between musicians and cultural institutions from both countries, laying the groundwork for a relationship intended to continue through future projects. The experience demonstrated the vast potential of Basque music to connect with international audiences, especially when showcased in dialogue with artists and repertoires from other musical traditions.

Next stop: Romania, November 23

Following its success in Armenia, the project will continue its international tour on November 23 in Pitești (Romania), where Josu Okiñena and Natalia Tchitch will present this program as part of the Pitești Philharmonic concert season. This upcoming performance builds on an initiative designed to bring Basque musical heritage to global stages, recover and share works of high artistic merit, and foster meaningful connections between musicians and audiences from different countries. "Basque Music in Dialogue with the World," an initiative backed by the Basque Government, stems from a fundamental conviction: Basque musical heritage must not remain confined within its geographical borders, as it possesses the quality and expressive depth required to play an active role in international musical life. From Yerevan to Pitești, Basque music continues its journey, opening new creative spaces and showing that culture is one of the most effective vehicles for building lasting bridges between peoples.