Water Symphony has London debut

Vartan Melkonian, the classical composer who busked his way from an orphanage in Lebanon to the stages of the West End, performed his latest symphony for the Queen last month.

Anita Awbi
  • By Anita Awbi
  • 28 Jul 2011
  • min read
Vartan Melkonian, the classical composer who busked his way from a Lebanese orphanage to the stages of the West End, performed his latest symphony for the Queen last month.

Amwaj – Water Symphony was written for the BMG Foundation’s Our Water Our Life initiative, in aid of the global water scarcity crisis. It was premiered by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Central Hall, Westminster. You can watch an excerpt from the four movements below.

M recently spoke to Vartan about his remarkable career - from a club singer in Skegness to London's concert halls -  and his love affair with classical music. Click here to watch part one and here for part two.

For more in our classical composers series read M at The Proms: Insider’s View