The Gurdjieff Ensemble

Gurdjieff Ensemble

The internationally acclaimed Gurdjieff Ensemble, founded by Levon Eskenian, is renowned for 'ethnographically authentic' arrangements of G. I. Gurdjieff/Thomas de Hartmann piano music. Comprised of leading musicians from Armenia specializing in Armenian and Middle Eastern traditional instruments, their ECM Records albums, 'Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff' and 'Komitas,' garnered widespread acclaim, including the Edison Award in the Netherlands.

In November 2023, the ensemble anticipates the release of their highly awaited third album, 'Zartir,' on ECM Records.

With a touring history spanning nearly 150 cities across 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, North and South America, the ensemble has performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide. Their performances, including sold-out concerts at renowned venues and festivals like the Holland Festival, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Boulez Hall in Berlin, the Bozar Center of Fine Arts in Brussels, the Morgenland and Rudolstadt festivals in Germany, the Gulbenkian Hall in Lisbon, the Budapest Spring Festival in Hungary, the Sala São Paulo in Brazil, the Albert Hall in Canberra, and the Chicago World Music Festival in the USA, among many others. Under Levon Eskenian's visionary leadership, the Armenian Gurdjieff Ensemble continues to transcend borders and ideologies, weaving harmonious connections that bridge the ancient and the contemporary, the East and the West, and the soulful essence of Armenian and Middle Eastern traditions.
These concerts have vividly demonstrated the ensemble’s appeal to varied audiences from folk to jazz and world music, from early to modern classical music, .

Gurdjieff Ensemble
Levon Eskenian: Artistic Director
Norayr Gapoyan: duduk, zurna, pku
Avag Margaryan: pogh, zurna
Armen Ayvazyan: kamancha
Aram Nikoghosyan: oud
Meri Vardanyan: kanon
Vladimir Papikyan: santur, voice
Davit Avagyan: tar
Mesrop Khalatyan: dap, dhol
Gagik Hakobyan: duduk, bass duduk