Biography
Artistic Director
Firdaus Orchestra, Dubai
Principal Conductor
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
"Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”
Early Life and EducationBorn in Beirut, Lebanon, Harout Fazlian, Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, is the Principal Conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra – LPO (formerly known as the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra, where he assisted in its establishment). Fazlian played an essential role in rejuvenating and popularizing classical music to the wider Lebanese public. He was also appointed as Music Director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Music Department.
Maestro Fazilian is known for his passionate and fiery conducting style
Musical Expertise and RepertoireHis masterly approach to sound and intensity reveals and projects his deep understanding of the score to the orchestra and audience. His repertoire ranges from Classical to Contemporary, specializing in Romantic and Late Romantic composers.
For Fazlian, a symphony orchestra is one of the most effective tools of cultural diplomacy. His collaboration with embassies and guest soloists not only places the LPO on the International music scene but also promotes Lebanon as a hub for refined art.
Education and Early CareerHe started his musical education at an early age in Beirut and pursued it in Montreal, Canada after he and his family immigrated there in 1976. From 1983 to 1990, he attended the National Conservatory of Music in Yerevan, Armenia where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Symphony and Opera conducting.
Harout Fazlian, whose musical metamorphosis ran from Rock to Symphony, has advanced degrees with Honors in Symphony and Opera Conducting, in addition to a PhD in Music Education.
A Leading Conductor in the Middle EastAfter a 30-year career in classical music, Fazlian is considered a reference in the musical scene of Lebanon and is one of the most sought after conductors in the symphonic and operatic sphere in the Middle East.
Notable Collaborations and ProjectsHe is also known to the public as the Personal Conductor to the two acclaimed Lebanese Icons: Fairouz and Julia Boutros.
Artistic Advisor for Lebanon’s Centennial CelebrationsHarout Fazlian was appointed Music and Artistic Advisor to the Higher Organizing Committee for the Centennial Celebrations of the Proclamation of the Greater Lebanon 2020 by the President of the Lebanese Republic.
Since 2017, in collaboration with the Events Department, he has been responsible for producing and conducting all musical representations at the Presidential Palace, including the official yearly Christmas Concert.
Social Impact Through MusicMaestro Fazlian firmly believes in a shared responsibility for social change. Many of his concerts are at the core of the UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), aiming to include persons with special needs, empower youth, safeguard Lebanese intangible cultural heritage, and promote gender equality.Interdisciplinary InspirationGiven an upbringing surrounded by the theatre, music and painting, Fazlian is inspired not only by different musical genres, but also different art forms. Other than being the leading figure in the operatic scene in Lebanon.
He is also known for his pioneering ideas revolutionizing the ‘traditional’ classical concert by combining visual elements, poetry and scenography; narrating the musical story in his unique impressionistic style.
Adapting Opera for the Arab WorldTo make the linguistic elements of Opera and Lieder more accessible to the wider Lebanese and Arab public, Maestro Fazlian requested Mozart’s Opera “Bastien and Bastienne” and Beethoven’s complete incidental music to Goethe’s tragedy “Egmont” to be translated into Arabic. He adapted the translated texts into the score, conducted the World Premiere in Beirut, and toured the Arab world (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Amman, and Ajman) receiving great reviews from critics.
Musical Theatre and Dance CollaborationsHarout Fazlian conducted at the Baalbeck International Festival the musical “From the Days of Salaheddine,” which was the first time a Lebanese musical play was performed with a live symphonic orchestra. He repeated the challenging experience at the Beiteddine Art Festival collaborating with the Caracalla Dance Theatre, conducting the dance musical “Once Upon a Time.”
Multidisciplinary Projects in the UAEIn 2019 Fazlian conducted the epic show “1001 Nights: The Last Chapter,” a multifaceted concept combining dance, acrobatics, theatre, digital arts, and live symphony orchestra. It was commissioned for the official inauguration of Sharjah’s selection as the 2019 UNESCO World Book Capital. It changed the face of live entertainment in the UAE and reinvented the genre of performing arts.
Fusing Oriental and Classical Music
In an Arab world keen on preserving its cultural heritage, he was commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage to create a musical concept for the Assilah Art Festival in Morocco. He arranged and conducted a new fusion concept for Nikolai Rimski-Korasakov’s “Scheherazade” incorporating narration and oriental instruments alongside a classical orchestra.
Harout Fazlian has won the reputation of combining symphonic music with traditional Arabic instruments.
National and International AcclaimHe arranged, recorded, and conducted the definitive version of the UAE National Anthem. In 2018 and 2019, Fazlian performed the official National Day concerts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Collaborations with International ComposersIn 2014, Maestro Fazlian collaborated as a traditional music advisor and supervisor with renowned German composer Christian Steinhäuser on the grandiose musical show “Clusters of Light,” the inaugural concert for Sharjah, Islamic Culture Capital celebrations.
International Guest ConductorOn the international level, Fazlian has guest conducted concerts with major orchestras in Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Jordan, KSA, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, and UAE.
Academic ContributionsIn the academic world, he established and organized the Music Department at the American University of Baghdad and Haigazian University. Dr. Fazlian also held academic positions and has given lectures at the Lebanese University, American University of Beirut, Haigazian University, and Université du Saint Esprit-Kaslik.
Maestro Fazlian has also been awarded numerous recognitions and awards.Notably the Second Prize and the Special Jury Prize at the International Conductor’s Competition of Czech Music, an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the International Academy of Sciences of Nature and Society of Armenia, and a certificate of Honors from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.
On July 5th, 2020 Maestro Fazlian conceived, directed and conducted the“Sound of Resilience”Concert produced by Baalbeck International Festival.
DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY"Epic" and "Historical" concert.
Being the first big cultural event and a Premiere in the Middle East after the confinement due to Covid-19, Maestro Fazlian envisioned it as an act of cultural resilience, unity and hope.Being at the crossroad of civilizations, the repertoire mirrored Baalbeck as an amalgamation of national and international genres. While highlighting Cultural Heritage, Youth Empowerment and Diaspora excellence, it also celebrated the centenary of Greater Lebanon and the 250th Anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Birthday.It was watched by more than 20 Million viewers.
