„ ... Olga Papikian played Mozart’s d-minor Fantasie KV 397 with a light touch – dreamily, tenderly – and with great empathy. Her posture seemed to suggest, that she wanted to distance herself from the music. Her forceful, dynamic playing, demonstrating Mozart’s keen dramatic sense, was gliding into tender thoughts, then jubilation! Olga interpreted the great differences of themes in Fantasie with emphasizing the fickleness of a genius – a beautiful and rare performance!
Olga Papikian can slip into the role of the composer. She ponders over an idea, pauses a little while, to leap into ecstasy, then changes again into a light, chatty conversation. The hands of this pianist know many variations. Her light touch masters the most delicate nuances of changing moods. Her Schubert (Impromptu A-flat major op. posth. 142, Wanderer-Fantasie and her encore from Die schöne Müllerin ) were poetic, her Liszt euphoric.

…This cold November evening in the Monastery hall Olga Papikian shared all this with her audience. Her obvious intensive studies enabled her to integrate Liszt’s La lugubre gondola No. 2 and the Wagner’s Tannhäuser Ouvertüre. She interprets La lugubre gondola, composed 1885, as complete bewilderment, rage and holding back tears. After a short interval, which the audience accepted as structuring element of her play, followed the debate between Liszt and Wagner,which finds expression in Wagner’s Tannhäuser Ouvertüre. Olga explained the relationship between the two musicians: deep admiration, friendship, discord, disagreement and renewed engagement. She is a master of vivid description, whose knowledge and competence is the empathy and polished technique of a true virtuoso.

Olga Papikian’s engagement was certainly the highlight of this season and many listeners would welcome a repetition of her performance.....“

Badische Zeitung, 2007