Author: Emil Lazarian

In the heart of Montreal, an evening dedicated to the legacy of Raffi Armenian, a titan in the realms of music and education, promises to fill Bourgie Hall at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with melodies that transcend time and borders. Set for February 19, 2024, the event not only celebrates Armenian's illustrious career but also underscores the indelible mark he has left on the cultural fabric of Quebec and Canada. Born to Armenian parents in Egypt, Armenian's journey through music has been one of passion, dedication, and unparalleled achievement.

The tribute evening is poised to be a constellation of performances by some of the most distinguished names in the classical music scene, including Armenian-Canadian soprano Aline Kutan, violinist Van Armenian, and conductors like Jean-Marie Zeitouni. Pianists André Laplante and Olivier Godin will also grace the stage, bringing to life a repertoire that spans the emotional depth and technical brilliance of Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann, alongside the poignant beauty of Armenian melodies. This diverse program not only showcases the breadth of Armenian's influence but also serves as a bridge connecting different musical traditions and communities.

Armenian's career has been a beacon of excellence in music performance and education. As the director of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal and a revered conductor of leading Canadian orchestras, he has shaped the soundscape of the nation. However, his most profound impact may be in his role as a mentor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where he nurtured the talents of aspiring conductors, instilling in them a love for music that mirrors his own. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate and the esteemed Order of Canada. The tribute event, therefore, is not just a celebration of Armenian's musical achievements but a recognition of his role as a cultural ambassador and educator.

The tribute to Raffi Armenian is more than an evening of exquisite music; it is a testament to the power of art in uniting people across different backgrounds and experiences. It reflects the mosaic of Montreal's cultural scene, a place where diverse traditions flourish and intertwine. Through the language of music, the event honors not only a single musician's legacy but also the broader human story of migration, adaptation, and artistic _expression_. As the melodies of Mozart and Armenian folk tunes fill Bourgie Hall, attendees will be reminded of the enduring beauty that emerges when cultures converge and creativity knows no bounds.

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/canada/montreal-honors-renowned-armenian-musician-raffi-armenian-in-a-stellar-tribute

Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are set to hold peace talks in Berlin this week, both ministries said Monday, in a bid to resolve a decades-long conflict between the Caucasus countries.

The two states have struggled for the control of Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Baku recaptured in September from Armenian separatists who had controlled it for decades.

The information about a possible visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Armenia, which was first reported last week, was confirmed on 26 February by a diplomatic source of Radio Azatutyun.

Source: European Pravda

Details: The source states that Zelenskyy’s visit to Armenia will most likely be held next Monday, on 4 March. If this is true, "will also travel to Azerbaijan," the publication said.

In case the information is confirmed, this will become the first visit of Zelenskyy to the Southern Caucasus not only since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but also since the moment he took office in 2019.

Zelenskyy has met with the leaders of both Azerbaijan and Armenia at international assemblies. For instance, at the beginning of October 2023 Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, and Zelenskyy met on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Granada for the first time.

The Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry refused to officially comment on the information about Zelenskyy’s visit, but MPs from the Public Agreement governmental party hinted in a conversation with Radio Azatutyun that it is true.

 "We don’t care about how Russia will or will not react [to Zelenskiy’s visit]," said one of the lawmakers, Gagik Melkonian.

A possible visit of Zelenskyy to Armenia will be held amid the deterioration of relations between Yerevan and Moscow.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan stated on numerous occasions that Armenia was not Russia’s ally in its war against Ukraine. Recently he stated that Yerevan "freezed" its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a military alliance de-facto headed by Moscow.

Azerbaijan on Monday said talks on a peace agreement with neighboring Armenia will resume soon.

“Face to face negotiations regarding the peace agreement are planned to be held with the Armenian delegation in the coming days,” Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters in Baku.

Expressing that work on a draft continued despite a break, Bayramov said President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided to restart the process after talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier this month.

Bayramov said actions of France serve to aggravate the situation. Baku has accused France of being biased towards Yerevan during peace talks, and has also charged it of inciting conflicts in the Caucasus by arming Armenia.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Azerbaijan liberated most of the region during the war in the fall of 2020, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement and opened the door to normalization.

Baku initiated an anti-terrorism operation in Karabakh last September to establish constitutional order, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.

The Azerbaijani diplomat said many institutions and political centers are worried about Azerbaijan’s restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that actions of the EU mission in Armenia created tensions on the border.

https://www.globalvillagespace.com/azerbaijan-to-resume-peace-talks-with-armenia/

In the world of international diplomacy, every move is a message, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's planned visit to Armenia is no exception. As the buzz around this significant diplomatic engagement grows, so do the implications for regional dynamics and alliances. With preparations underway and the exact date still under negotiation, the anticipation of Zelenskyy's arrival in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, is palpable.

According to Armenian media outlet Factor.am, citing European Pravda as its source, the visit is currently in the preparation stage. While the specific details of the agenda remain shrouded in mystery, the significance of such a visit cannot be understated. It's a gesture that carries weight in the delicate balance of international relations, especially in a region as complex as the South Caucasus. The Armenian Foreign Ministry, while not confirming the specifics, has indicated that high-level visits are announced in due time, keeping the aura of anticipation alive.

The potential visit comes at a time when Armenia's relations with its long-time ally Russia are experiencing strains, notably due to differing stances on the Ukraine conflict. Armenia's outreach to Ukraine, including the provision of humanitarian assistance last year, symbolizes a nuanced foreign policy approach. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements in recent interviews with Bloomberg and France 24, emphasizing Armenia's independent stance regarding the Ukraine war, further illustrate the evolving dynamics within the region.

Such a visit by Zelenskyy to Armenia could therefore be seen as a bold diplomatic maneuver, potentially angering Russia. The visit also signifies a strengthening of ties between Ukraine and Armenia, two nations navigating their paths amidst regional pressures and shifting alliances. The dialogue between Pashinyan and Zelenskyy, initiated on the margins of a European Union summit in Granada, Spain, last fall, sets the stage for deeper cooperation and mutual support.

The implications of Zelenskyy's visit extend beyond the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and Armenia. It sends a strong signal to the international community about the potential for new alliances and partnerships in the face of traditional geopolitical blocs. For Armenia, it's an opportunity to assert its sovereignty and diversify its diplomatic engagements. For Ukraine, it represents a chance to solidify support and gain a strategic foothold in the South Caucasus.

As the preparations for this landmark visit continue, the eyes of the world will be on Yerevan, watching as two leaders navigate the complex web of international diplomacy. The outcomes of this visit could redefine regional alliances, offering a new narrative in the ever-evolving story of international relations.

Melissa Bilal, a leading scholar of Armenians in Turkey and director of UCLA’s Armenian Music Program, has been appointed the inaugural holder of The . Bilal is renowned for her work on the history of Armenian music.

The endowed chair, made possible by a gift to The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, will support scholarly research, undergraduate and graduate courses in Armenian music, and academic conferences on Armenian music and performing arts.

“We are grateful for this investment in our ongoing work to deepen understanding of Armenian culture, which will further UCLA’s position as a leader in Armenian studies,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “One of our core responsibilities as an academic institution is to foster a sense of global citizenship and cultural understanding, and expanding our faculty and scholarship in this area is one way we are bringing that commitment to life.”

Melissa Bilal (far right) introduces an event at the 2023 Day of Armenian Music in Lani Hall

With a legacy of scholarship on Armenia and its diaspora that dates back more than 50 years, UCLA has established itself as one of the largest and most vibrant centers for Armenian studies outside of Armenia. The new Promise Chair, housed in The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, joins two other endowed chairs at UCLA devoted to the study of Armenia and Armenians. The Narekatsi Chair of Armenian Studies, the oldest endowed chair at UCLA, established in 1969, anchors the program in Armenian language and culture. The Armenian Educational Foundation endowed a chair in the history department in 1987, which in 2011 was renamed the Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History.

“UCLA has long been a leading place for Armenian studies, and it is also a great place for collaboration with other artists and scholars,” Bilal said. “The establishment of this chair will allow us to further expand our offerings for undergraduate and graduate students.”

Bilal holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the University of Chicago and advanced degrees from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. She has been a visiting scholar of history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and held a Mellon postdoctoral teaching fellowship at Columbia University.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, she has served as associate director, and then director, of the Armenian Music Program in the School of Music, the only academic program outside Armenia dedicated to the study and performance of Armenian music. The program offers robust artistic programming through public concerts, community outreach, undergraduate courses on Armenian music and dance, fellowships for students, and support for the VEM Ensemble, founded and directed by violin professor Movses Pogossian and dedicated to Armenian classical music performance.

Under Bilal’s tenure, the program extended its VEM fellowship to enable more students and alumni to study Armenian folk singing as well as traditional Armenian instruments. The program has also embarked on several new research projects, including one exploring the archive of prominent music scholar and song collector Bedros Alahaidoyan. The program’s upcoming four-CD set, “Serenade With a Dandelion,” will be celebrated with a public concert scheduled for March 4.

Bilal’s activities as chair will also intersect with The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA which was founded in 2019 with a gift from the estate of philanthropist and entrepreneur Kirk Kerkorian. The institute coordinates interdisciplinary research and public programs and serves as a hub for world-class scholarship and teaching, supporting faculty and researchers in fields ranging from the arts and sciences to public health and medicine.

Dr. Eric Esrailian, co-chair of UCLA’s Second Century Council and a UCLA faculty member, was key to the establishment of The Promise Institute. He believes the chair at the School of Music will strengthen UCLA’s position as a premier site for Armenian cultural studies worldwide. “In her new role, Melissa Bilal will facilitate a close partnership with The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA to foster collaboration across campus, extend the broadest reach and promote the kind of interdisciplinary scholarship and activities that only the nation’s top public university can achieve,” he said.

UCLA and the School of Music are committed to enhancing both local and global impact, and this new chair is a big part of advancing that mission, said Eileen Strempel, inaugural dean of the School of Music. Los Angeles is home to more diasporic communities than virtually any other city in America — with a particularly robust Armenian community — and UCLA’s broader purpose is driven by a responsibility to create a just and prosperous future for both its immediate and extended global communities.

“Having the resources to support the ongoing research of distinguished scholars like Melissa helps our school do its part to fulfill that promise.” Strempel said. “As performers, creators and educators, we operate at the nexus of practice and scholarship most vibrantly when we proactively engage the diverse musical traditions within our city of exceptionally rich cultural diversity.”

Bilal’s scholarly research focuses on Armenian music and experiences in the 19th and 20th centuries. Her most recent book manuscript, “Feminism in Armenian: An Interpretive Anthology,” co-authored with MIT historian Lerna Ekmekcioglu, focuses on 12 Armenian feminist writers born in the Ottoman Empire and active in Constantinople/Istanbul and its post–Armenian Genocide diasporas from the 1860s through the 1960s.

“I’m looking forward to bringing scholars and artists together to discuss the enduring legacy of Armenian musicians in global music history and the significance of diverse repertoires and styles of Armenian music in our lives today,” said Bilal.