Flamenco Guitarist Vahagani Visits GSI

We've recently welcomed Vahagni to our showroom for a recording session featuring original compositions, flamenco works, and an arrangement from one of the most beloved video game soundtracks. Performed on five different guitars, the program reflected the broad range of influences that have shaped Vahagni's music, blending flamenco, jazz, and world music traditions into a style of his own. 

He opened with his original composition Collage, performed on a 1961 Miguel Rodriguez guitar. Originally released on his 2012 album Solitude, the piece combines contrasting musical ideas into a single work, reflecting the title's patchwork concept. Vahagni brought out the shifts in mood while maintaining the narrative character of the song. 

Vahagni also performed Levante on a 2001 Conde Hermanos flamenco guitar. Named after the eastern winds of Spain, the piece draws on traditional flamenco language while allowing room for Vahagni's own musical voice. His performance highlighted the rhythmic drive and expressive phrasing that define the work. 

The program continued with Bulerías on a 2025 Manuel Arango guitar. One of flamenco's most recognizable forms, the bulerías is known for its fast tempo, complex rhythmic cycle, and improvisatory spirit. Vahagni balanced technical precision with the spontaneity that is central to the style.

He then performed Anri on a 2014 José Martin Plazuelo guitar. The piece is written as a rondeña, a flamenco form known for its distinctive tuning and reflective character. Vahagni allowed the melodic lines to unfold naturally while emphasizing the work's expressive harmonic language. 

The program concluded with Vahagni's arrangement of the Ocarina of Time theme from The Legend of Zelda, performed on a 1961 Arcángel Fernández guitar. Originally composed by Koji Kondo for the 1998 Nintendo game, the melody has become one of the most recognizable themes in video game music. Vahagni's arrangement preserves its simple, memorable character while adapting it naturally to the guitar.

Together, these performances offered a look at Vahagni's wide-ranging musical interests, from traditional flamenco forms and original compositions to contemporary arrangements, all presented with a personal and distinctive approach.