Naregatsi Orchestra

Naregatsi Orchestra is a folk instruments ensemble in Yerevan under the artistic direction of Artem Khachatur, merging Armenian folk traditions and heritage instruments with various music genres, brilliantly adapting modern sounds to ancient instruments.

The roots of the Naregatsi Orchestra go to August 2008, when Nareg Hartounian established the Naregatsi Folk Instruments Ensemble under the auspices of the Naregatsi Art Institute (NAI) in Yerevan. Named after the spiritual heir of Saint Gregory of Narek, the orchestra defines its own character with its spiritual legacy.

The Ensemble's first CD was released in 2010 and won "Best Album of the Year" at the National Music Awards. Their second CD Rebirth followed in 2012. In June 2015 the ensemble was reorganized into its current format and renamed Naregatsi Orchestra, with artistic director Artem Khachatur expanding the repertoire to include folk ballads, spiritual songs, new arrangements of classical Armenian songs and modern popular songs.

Their latest album New Breath (2018) features 12 songs arranged and orchestrated by Artem Khachatur. Currently the orchestra consists of 30 professional musicians playing ancient Armenian instruments: qamancha, duduk, shvi, blul, bambir, oud, tar, santur, kanon, and percussion.

One of their videos gained international attention — a rendition of System Of A Down's "Aerials" arranged for folk instruments. Serj Tankian praised their work and attended a special concert in Armenia in 2016, recorded for a BBC documentary. In December 2021, the orchestra released their arrangement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.