Toronto-born violinist Catherine Manoukian has been winning praise throughout North America and Japan. Critics have called her "an exciting, dazzling talent" and say "she plays with an audacious spirit, an amazing technique, a superb rhythmic integrity and an absolute sureness of pitch." Her debut album features beautiful and passionate music, including Chopin’s "Nocturne" no. 20 in C sharp minor and Tchaikovsky’s "Sérénade Mélancolique."
"The gifted Toronto violinist has been on the concert stage since age four and was only 12 in 1994 when she won top prize at the Canadian Music Competition. Since then, she’s been starring with just about every major Canadian orchestra lucky enough to book her and a number of overseas ones as well. After one hearing of this expertly programmed album, the only unsettling thought is just where will Manoukian take this diverse and seemingly effortless talent when she’s emerged so near the top? Nothing seems out of context for her artistically mature and lyrically sensitive approach, which encompasses a feast of true international flavor. The fare ranges from Canadian John Weinzweig’s dramatic Dance of Masada, to an eloquent concluding group of Armenian composers. In between there are major names like Dvorak, Brahms, Chopin and Granados, every one of them energized and rediscovered under Manoukian’s warm, decisive touch. She’s expertly accompanied on this generous 72-minute album by American pianist and Juilliard graduate, Akira Eguchi." Pauline Finch-Durichen - Southam Newspapers, 11 June 1998
