The Dynamic Duo
By Lucretia Voigt Independentt Arts Writer
At first glance, you may not notice the similarity. Armen Ghazaryan and Robert Behrman, like Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, come across as mild-mannered and debonair everyday men. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson may have had their Batman and Robin superhero costumes, but Armen and Robert have their violin and piano. Armen Ghazaryan and Robert Behrman will kick off the Nantucket Arts Council's Winter Concert Series on Sunday, February 3 with a concert at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street.

Robert Behrman and Armen Ghazaryan

Armen Ghazaryan landed on the shores of Nantucket in 2002, his violin at his side. Born in Armenia and raised in Moscow, he studied under Vladimir Spivakov and Victor Khachaturian. A second place win in the Amadeus International Competition at age 17 opened up a world of opportunity for him. He came to Nantucket in 2002, then left in 2004 to play for the Miami Symphony Orchestra. While in South Florida he also became the first chair violinist for the Miami Lyric Opera Symphony and a guest in the Hollywood (Florida) Philharmonic. The beauty of Nantucket, however, kept calling him back.

PHOTO BY LUCRETIA VOIGT The duo rehearsed Monday at the Congregational Church.

Robert Behrman began playing piano at the age of six and never stopped. He came to Nantucket two years ago when hired as the music director at the First Congregational Church. Prior to that he was in St. Louis, playing organ and piano for a church and bringing together musical groups such as the St. Louis New Music Ensemble. Both Behrman and Ghazaryan are faculty members of the NCMC/Nantucket School of Music.

A year ago the duo came together like two lost pieces of a sonata when Behrman needed a violin accompaniment for a program.

"As time passed, we played more together, and we've learned a lot from each other," said Berhman, who called Ghazaryan, "one of the hardest working players I've ever known."

"Unfortunately, 95% of the result that a musician has is work, not the talent," Ghazaryan said. Do not let his humbleness fool you. The talent possessed by both him and Behrman is only matched by a very few world class musicians.

"We have great ensemble," Berhman said. "We know what the other person is doing - not before and not after but in the moment. We're two people who can play as one."

This is evident even when talking to the two. They finish each other's sentences, seamlessly follow each other's thoughts and make a third person listening have to sprint to keep up.

The duo will perform a concert in three sonatas, by Handel, Beethoven and Franck. The emotions of each piece are accentuated by the superb handling of Behrman and Ghazaryan. Listening to them play you get lost in the wave of the music.

"It's an interesting program," said Ghazaryan, "because we start from Handel, which is 18th century."

"1732, was the date," interrupts Berhman. "The Beethoven sonata is 1802."

"And finally . . ," interjects Ghazaryan.

"Franck is 1886 . . ," continues Behrman.

"More modern, and we'll end up . . ." comments Ghazaryan.

"It's a secret, but we're playing a little Broadway for the encore," finishes Behrman.

Both Behrman and Ghazaryan have fallen in love with Nantucket. Armen considers it his "home away from home."

"I always call Nantucket my first love," Ghazaryan said. "For an artist, it's a very inspiring, special environment. … Pablo Casals, a Spanish cellist, moved to Puerto Rico because he thought that a small island is the right place for his inspiration to create music, to be by himself. Probably, that is the same situation with me here."

Behrman is equally as enchanted. "I love playing for audiences here. I've never played for better audiences anywhere else in America," Behrman said. "Nantucket audiences tend to be more intelligent; they have a combination of East Coast smarts with real appreciation of what performers go through to make something meaningful for their audiences. That combination of intelligence and kindness makes for a really warm feeling."

Tickets for all concerts are $20 for Nantucket Arts Council members and $25 for non-members and can be purchased at Mitchell's Book Corner, Nantucket Bookworks, Dan's Pharmacy and at the door. Students in high school and younger are admitted free. Series tickets are also available at a discounted price. The event begins at 4 p.m. and take place at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street.

"The concert will definitely be over by Super Bowl time," laughed Behrman.

"Definitely," concurred Ghazaryan, a smile in his eyes. Even superhero musicians have to take some

time to relax. I

- Armen Ghazaryan and Robert Behrman will perform on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at The Coffin School, 4 Winter Street. Tickets are $20 for Nantucket Arts Council members and $25 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at Mitchell's Book Corner, Nantucket Bookworks, Dan's Pharmacy and at the door. Students in high school and younger are admitted free.