BBC's two-hour program to new music in Armenia, highlighting the Notations

Armenia’s contemporary music scene has come under the BBC spotlight, with BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show dedicating an almost two-hour special program to new music in Armenia, showcasing the work of Armenian contemporary composers, musicians, and arts initiatives.

Titled “New Music in Armenia,” the program was hosted by Tom Service, who spoke with representatives of Armenia’s music scene. Guests included Aram Hovhannisyan and Sergey Umroyan, composers and directors of the Assonance Ensemble,  as well as Lusine Mlke-Galstyanmusician and coordinator of the Notations Laboratory and Festival.

At the heart of the program was the diversity of new music in Armenia, ranging from contemporary composition and experimental music to new sonic forms and interdisciplinary artistic practices.

Particular attention was given to the Notations Laboratory and Festival, organized in Armenia by the hosq Foundation, which in recent years has emerged as an important international platform for contemporary and experimental art. The program explored the concept behind the laboratory and festival, their international scope, and the creative environment they foster in Yerevan for collaboration between Armenian and international artists.

The program featured a selection of notable contemporary music works, presenting different artistic approaches, sonic languages, and experimental forms by Armenian and international composers.

Among the works featured were “5 in 4/2” by Lusine Mlke-Galstyan and Sonya Ovchinnikova, as well as “Cosmic Silence (Album Version)” by Andriesh and Simulya. The program also presented “Chord 87 II II III O” by Simona Markevich, “Lockdown for Cello” by Sergey Umroyan, and “Synopsis” by Aram Hovhannisyan, performed by the Assonance Ensemble.

Also featured was “The Rite of Passage for Ensemble and Electronics” by Varder Baghdasaryan, part of “The Refrain” project, curated by Aram Hovhannisyan and Sergey Umroyan. The program also included “Mer Tagvor” by Tiezerek.

Through this diverse selection of works, the program highlighted the multifaceted nature of contemporary music, bringing together acoustic and electronic sounds, innovative compositional approaches, and different manifestations of contemporary musical thinking.

Notably, most of the works featured were created as part of the Notations Laboratory. A significant number of works produced during the laboratory are also expected to be featured in upcoming BBC programs.

The future presentation of these works on the BBC will allow new works of contemporary Armenian music to reach an even wider international audience.

In 2026, Notations in Armenia brought together more than 130 artists and curators from 27 countries. Over the two weeks, participants created new works exploring ritual as a creative method and source of inspiration.

The laboratory produced 61 projects, including 31 performances, four concert programs, 19 installations, an ambisonic sound project, concerts, and a regional exhibition dedicated to audio technologies. At the conclusion of the laboratory, the projects were presented at the Armenian State Philharmonic, the National Gallery of Armenia, and the Hayfilm Creative Hub, attracting more than 1,500 visitors.

The BBC’s coverage is particularly significant in presenting Armenia not only as a country with a rich musical heritage but also as a vibrant and active creative environment for new music and experimental art.