Soprano Papian Dazzles at Armenian Night at Pops
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
JULY 23, 2011 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 2, Issue 4196 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF Armenia, Greece Promote Cooperation Soprano Papian Dazzles at YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — On July 19, con - sultations were held between the Foreign Ministries of Greece and Armenia in Yerevan, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. On the Armenian side, talks were led by the head Armenian Night at Pops of the ministry’s European Union division, Armen Liloyan, and on the Greek side by the director of the Department for CIS states, Ambassador Karlos Gadis. By Nancy Kalajian During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral and economic ties. Special to the Mirror-Spectator Armenia Recognizes BOSTON — The 60th annual Armenian Night at the Pops featured world-renowned South Sudan soprano Hasmik Papian, who did not dis - appoint. YEREVAN — Armenia recognizes the newly-created The Friends of Armenian Culture Republic of South Sudan, Armenia’s Foreign Society, Inc. (FACS) is the sponsor of this Minister Eduard Nalbandian announced. annual event, one of the most anticipated “The declaration of independent statehood in Armenian cultural events in the Greater South Sudan is an exercise of legal equality of Boston community. This year, more than nations and an inalienable right to self-determina - 450 tickets were purchased through FACS; tion and another example of civilized settlement of during program intermissions, guests were conflicts,” said Nalbandian. seen greeting each other with warm The Republic of Sudan officially recognized the embraces and sharing their thoughts on Lilit and Rouben Shugarian with Hasmik Papian at the post-concert reception new state on Saturday. The Republic of South the unique program. Sudan declared independence early in July, follow - Held in the majestic ambiance of ing a decades-long civil war with North Sudan. Boston’s Symphony Hall, this year’s pro - the Boston Pops Orchestra performed the ner. Drinking Song , an upbeat and eclectic gramming was eclectic. “Triple Crown,” the Hayr Mer (the Lord’s Prayer). work by talented young composer John Ambassador Complains first part of the program, centered on hors - As in previous FACS events, the Armenian Sarkissian, premiered that evening to favor - es and included the premiere of Randy talent held the audience spellbound. able review. Listeners gave him a big hand To UN Chief on Azeri Newman’s Selections from Seabiscuit . Lockhart introduced Papian, a “distin - when Lockhart acknowledged him in the Actress Paula Plum narrated a film on guished classical artist” and later admiring - audience. Propaganda horseracing and “horses’ mystical relation - ly remarked, “It’s an honor to work with During the evening, Lockhart also YEREVAN (Armradio.am) — Armenia’s Permanent ship with man.” Though occasionally she someone of her international stature.” In a acknowledged Ara Arakelian of FACS, the Representative to the UN Garen Nazarian has seemed to be drowned out by the music, glittery blue gown, the soprano had great 20th anniversary of the independence of addressed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki- she nonetheless did an admirable job in a range without a microphone and showed see POPS, page 13 moon. challenging role. poise and solid voice in performing a vari - Calling the secretary general’s attention to the After a long intermission, conductor Keith ety of pieces. cases of violation of the ceasefire regime at the line Lockhart welcomed the Armenian commu - The mystical Aria-Vocalise by of contact by the Azerbaijani armed forces, he nity with an Armenian greeting and Babadjanian was followed by the well- Armenian Assembly noted, in part, that “such provocative actions con - expressed admiration for FACS’ ongoing known Kilikia by Yeranian-Yekmalian. tradict the ongoing negotiations in the framework support and commitment to this annual Catalani’s Ebben? Ne andro lontana , from Reserves Judgment of the OSCE Minsk Group, the statements of the event, now in its 60th year. “This is one of “La Wally” was a dramatically expressed - heads of co-chairing countries, the UN Statute and my favorite nights at the Pops,” shared piece that drew huge applause and con - On John Heffern the Helsinki Final Act.” Lockhart. Most of the audience — including trasted with Puccini’s O mio bambino caro, Nazarian expressed concern over Azerbaijani many non-Armenians — stood up solemnly as which she sang in a delicate, sensitive man - Nomination leadership spreading anti-Armenian propaganda, which is becoming a major aspect of Azerbaijan’s WASHINGTON — John Heffern, the foreign policy. administration’s nominee to serve as “Armenia is committed to continuing the negoti - TCA Board of Directors Meet in California ambassador of the US to Armenia, faced a ations on the settlement of the Karabagh conflict series of questions on a range of issues dur - within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, ing the recent Senate Foreign Relations which is an effective and the only legitimate format Committee hearing chaired by Sen. Jeanne for mediation. It’s time for Azerbaijan to under - Shaheen (D-NH), reported the Armenian stand that it should stop hampering the activity of Assembly of America. the mediators and concentrate on the negotiation Presiding over the hearing, Foreign process instead of disseminating groundless and Relations Subcommittee Chair on offensive information,” the letter reads. European Affairs, Shaheen began the round of questioning and touched on the Protocols between Armenia and Turkey, the current status INSI DE of the Nagorno- Karabagh talks Pictured above are members of the TCA Board of Directors. Seated, from left, TCA and prospects for Arshag Dickranian School Trustees Arpi Avanesian-Idolor, Gia Aivazian, George K. peace, as well as Mandossian (president and TCA vice president), TCA President Dr. Haroutiun COAF Gala Arzoumanian, Vice President Edmond Azadian and Treasurer Maro Bedrosian; the importance of Standing Trustee Parsegh Kartalian, Vartkes Kourouyan,(principal) TCA Board mem - democracy and bers Arsen Demirdjian, Papken Megerian, Hagop Vartivarian, Vatche Semerdjian, free and fair elec - In NYC Rouben Terzian and Kevork Marashlian (executive secretary). See story on page 16. tions, especially in the context of the page 10 upcoming nation - al elections in Armenia in 2012 Sen. Robert TCA Dickranian School 2011 Commencement and 2013. Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) John Barrasso (R- LOS ANGELES — Marking the school’s Manoug Markarian, benefactresses Eleanor WY) emphasized INDEX 30th anniversary, the commencement cere - Dickranian and Laurel Karabian, members the importance of democratization and Armenia . 2 Arts and Living . 10 monies of the fifth grade (elementary), of the Tekeyan Cultural Association Board queried Heffern about the steps he would eighth grade (middle) and 12th grade (high of Directors were amongst the honored Community News. 4 take to assist Armenia’s development. Editorial . 14 school) graduates of the Tekeyan Cultural guests, joined by members of the school In response to Shaheen’s questions, International . 3 Association Arshag Dickranian School took board of trustees, faculty and a capacity Heffern indicated that the United States place on Saturday, June 25, at the school’s audience comprised of jubilant parents, rel - strongly supported the Protocols signed Walter and Laurel Karabian Hall. atives and friends. between Armenia and Turkey in October of Very Rev. Dajad Yardemian, Archpriest see COMMENCEMENT, page 7 see NOMINATION, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , JULY 23, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia AGBU President Visits Armenia YEREVAN — AGBU President Berge Armenia’s Population Setrakian paid a visit to Armenia from May 28 to June 3, to participate in the Declining; 44 Percent first session of the state committee coordinating events dedicated to the See No Future in 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 20th session of the Homeland Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Board of YEREVAN (Tert.am) — The world population will Trustees. top 4 billion in November, but according to demo- As part of his visit, Setrakian had a graphic projections, Armenia’s population will number of meetings with important shrink by 2050, Garik Hayrapetyan, the executive government officials, including presi - representative of the UN Population Fund’s dent of the Republic of Armenia, Serge Yerevan office, told a news conference earlier this Sargisian, chairman and speaker of the week. National Assembly, Hovik Abrahamian, A UN study conducted in 2009 shows that only Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian, Second right, Berge Setrakian, Hranoush Hagopian, Jirair Tanielian and KOHAR 16 percent of the respondents in Armenia have said Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Khatchadourian at the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Armenia they are ready to have another child in the three Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian, years to come; 68 percent ruled out such a possi- Minister of Education and Science bility. The number of children born to young fami- Armen Ashotyan and Diaspora Minister of holding national fundraisers to sup - event dedicated to the 70th birthday lies stands at 1.5, while 2.1 is needed for a simple Hranoush Hakobian. port war survivors, organize repatria - anniversary of Jirair Tanielian, a promi - reproduction. During the meetings, Setrakian was tion and help Armenia. nent linguist, editor, bibliographer, edu - Some 44 percent have said they don’t see their accompanied by AGBU Central Board Setrakian praised the devoted nation