~The "Glass Shatterers!" series focuses on sopranos who sustain High F, or sing higher.

THE SONGBIRD: Armenian soprano Artsvik Demurchyan (Արծվիկ Դեմուրչյան) was born in Yerevan in 1971 and graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory. After placing well in a few competitions, in 2003, she performed Violetta with Saratov Opera Theater. Demurchyan is a soloist of the Yerevan Opera Theater and an artist of the Armenian National Academic Choir. She has participated in opera productions and oratorio performances of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra. Among her roles are: Anush, Violetta, Gilda, Madame Butterfly, Zerlina, and Queen of Night. Demurchyan has toured to Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Germany, UK, Italy, Georgia, Beirut, and Istanbul.

THE MUSIC: Donizetti’s 1843 comic opera "Don Pasquale" is regularly produced due to its appealing score, clever libretto, and small ensemble cast of just four principal soloists (plus one minor role). "So anch'io la virtù magica" introduces the young widow Norina, a coloratura soubrette role. The aria begins with an introduction whereby Norina reads a romantic passage from a book ("Quel guardo, il cavaliere"), then in the following aria, she reveals her own feelings on the topic. Her sly nature can be heard clearly in the music, such as the many short grace notes embedded into the melody. Oddly, Demurchyan abbreviates the aria slightly but making a cut that includes the long held trill that a leads back into the aria's main theme -- but she makes up for it with a held High F at the end. ;-)

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