An article by A. V. (647 words, 3 min. read)
On the evening of May 2nd, 2025, in the intimate setting of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Kantari, something extraordinary happened. It wasn’t just another classical concert, it was a poetic convergence of sound, soul, and shared purpose. At the heart of it stood Tania Sonc-Molaeb and Ribal Molaeb, a violinist and a violist, a couple not only in life but in perfect harmony on stage. Their performance of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante transcended the expected, offering the audience not just music, but a journey.
A Conversation Across Strings
When Tania and Ribal stood before the orchestra, they weren’t just soloists. They were storytellers. Their instruments spoke to each other like two voices recalling an ancient conversation, full of tenderness, surprise, and understanding. The violin shimmered with a luminous clarity under Tania’s hands; her bow light yet precise, each note singing with elegance and poise. Ribal responded with depth and warmth, his viola speaking in darker hues, rich with introspection and resolve. Together, they created a dialogue that seemed to have no beginning or end: only presence.
Mozart Reimagined Through Emotion
Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante is known for its balance of virtuosity and expression, but in the hands of the Molaebs, it became deeply human. In the Allegro maestoso, there was a sense of joy tinged with restraint, like a celebration clouded by the memory of something lost. The rhythm breathed through them, and their synchronicity was effortless, not rehearsed. You could feel the Mannheim crescendos swell like waves between them, echoing a shared understanding that reached beyond technical mastery.
The Andante was perhaps the most powerful moment. Here, the music mourned; not in despair, but in intimacy. The violin’s voice carried sorrow, and the viola replied not with answers but with consolation. It was as if two people, after enduring much, were holding space for one another’s pain. There was no dramatization, only honesty. The silence between phrases became part of the music. You could almost hear the heartbeat of Mozart in the pauses — and the heartbeat of the Molaebs in their unity.
A Joyous Finale, A Testament to Life
By the time the Presto exploded into motion, the audience was already suspended in the emotional web the duo had woven. The final movement sparkled with playfulness, wit, and sheer delight. It wasn’t just performance, it was release. Tania and Ribal danced through the notes, not with showmanship, but with affection — for each other, for the music, for the audience. The orchestra, under the refined guidance of Maestro Massimiliano Matesic, responded like a living organism, enhancing the duo’s energy without overshadowing their intimate dynamic.
More Than Music
What we witnessed that evening was more than the interpretation of a Mozart masterpiece. It was a manifestation of unity: between two people, between soloists and orchestra, between the past and the present. In their shared artistry, Tania and Ribal reminded us that music is not only sound — it is emotion made visible, memory made audible. Their connection elevated the performance into something sacred.
In a country still navigating its way through hardship, this concert offered a moment of transcendence. The Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra, reemerging with strength under the leadership of Dr. Hiba Al Kawas, provided the stage. But it was Tania and Ribal who brought the soul.
A Journey That Continues
As the final notes faded, the audience did not rush to applaud. There was a silence, a stillness — the kind that comes after something truly moving. Then, wave after wave of applause filled the church, not just in admiration, but in gratitude.
For a night, we were lifted. Not only by Mozart, but by two artists who reminded us what harmony sounds like when it is lived, not just played. The Molaebs did not merely perform music; they became it. And we were lucky to witness it.
