Author: Kajoyan Gevork

GIVING VOICE TO A TALE OF PURSUIT AND DESIRE

The New York Times
February 26, 2013 Tuesday
Late Edition – Final

By JAMES R. OESTREICH

The remarkable resurgence of Handel operas in the last quarter-century
owes at least as much to their abundant opportunities for vocal
display as to their overall musical quality, which can be spotty,
or their dramatic persuasiveness, which is often feeble. So Carnegie
Hall was well filled with voice aficionados on Sunday afternoon
for a concert performance of Handel’s “Radamisto,” with the fine
period-instrument band English Concert deftly conducted from the
harpsichord by Harry Bicket.

And they got what they came for. The nominal attraction was the
countertenor David Daniels in the title role, but the casting was
strong across the board.

The plot spins out the would-be fatal pursuit of Radamisto, son of
Farasmane, the king of Thrace, by the invading troops of Tiridate,
the dastardly king of Armenia, about as far as it can be spun. However
much bent on sheer conquest, Tiridate also lusts after Radamisto’s
wife, Zenobia, spurning his own, Polissena, Radamisto’s sister. At
the final bell, in the last of 32 scenes, the other characters, led
by Tiridate’s ally, Tigrane, convince Tiridate of the evil of his ways.

He suddenly relents (“What virtue I offended!”), and all’s well.

Fortunately, there are enough great arias (along with a few duets and
ensembles) to carry the day, if well performed. Most were magnificently
rendered here.

The bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni nearly stole the show, as his
characterizations so often do, with his bullying, blustery Tidirate
(though Mr. Daniels momentarily upstaged him in return, standing to
acknowledge and extend applause for his performance of Radamisto’s
great aria “Ombra cara,” just as Mr. Pisaroni was attempting a
stage entrance). Mr. Pisaroni made the most of his bravura moments
and commanded the stage with his physical presence as well as with
his voice.

The other main characters all had lyrical showcases in addition to
vocal fireworks, and that is where Mr. Daniels really shone. His
fioritura sometimes sounded approximate, partly, perhaps, because it
did not always project well. His more subdued and reflective arias,
on the other hand, especially that “Ombra cara,” were nothing but
gorgeous.

The women were all excellent: the soprano Joelle Harvey, assured if
not imposing in the trouser role of Tigrane; another soprano, Brenda
Rae, sturdy yet suitably vulnerable as Polissena; and the mezzo-soprano
Patricia Bardon, utterly melting as Zenobia. David Kravitz, a baritone,
was more than adequate to the smaller role of Farasmane.

This was the first in a series of Handel operas and oratorios to be
presented in concert by Carnegie Hall, with Mr. Bicket and the English
Concert. “Theodora,” another musical gem, was recently announced for
next February.

URL:

ARMENIE: BAGARRE A L’ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE

Le Figaro, France
27 fevr 2013

Des incidents ont oppose hier soir a l’Assemblee nationale des
militants de la cause armenienne, qui y tenaient une reunion, a deux
Azerbaïdjanais, provoquant l’intervention immediate de l’ambassadeur
d’Azerbaïjan, a-t-on appris aujourd’hui.

Les pro-Armeniens s’etaient rassembles pour une ceremonie d’hommage
aux victimes armeniennes d’un pogrom survenu dans la ville azerie de
Soumgaït, en 1988, a l’epoque de l’URSS, quand les deux Azerbaïdjanais
sont intervenus et ont ete, selon l’ambassade d’Azerbaïdjan a Paris,
frappes.

Ils avaient declare a la salle vouloir pour leur part commemorer un
autre massacre, perpetre selon eux par les Armeniens en 1992 a Khojaly,
lors du conflit de la region du Nagorny-Karabach. Les militants
armeniens ont alors, toujours selon l’ambassade, “sauvagement battu
les deux Azerbaïdjanais”.

Ceux-ci se sont alors refugies dans une autre salle, où se reunissaient
des deputes. “Ils etaient en etat de stress, et des coups avaient ete
portes”, a indique un depute a l’AFP. L’ambassadeur d’Azerbaïdjan
en France, Elchin Amirbayov, s’est ensuite rendu sur place pour
reclamer que “les agresseurs” soient “bientôt identifies et traduits
en justice”, selon l’ambassade.

Pour sa part, le Conseil de coordination des Armeniens de France
(CCAF), jugeant “curieux” cette arrivee de l’ambassadeur “quelques
minutes après l’incident”, a denonce dans un communique “une
provocation inadmissible” de la part des Azerbaïdjanais.

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DIGITALIZATION OF ITS FUNDS

YEREVAN, February 27. /ARKA/. The National Library of Armenia will pay
special attention to digitalization of its funds, Tigran Zargaryan,
director of the library, told journalists today.

“Digital files will be available in the library’s computer center
and at home,” he said.

Zargaryan said that nowadays readers, especially young people, prefer
digital sources and the library takes it into account.

The national library services 900 people every day. It provides 1.5
million pieces of literature to readers.

There are more than 6.8 million pieces in the library’s fund.

The first printed Armenian book, Urbatagirk (1512, Venice), the
first Armenian magazine, Azdarar (1794, Madras) and the first
printed map (1695, Amsterdam) are kept here. -0- – See more at:

IRAN’S ARMENIANS DEMAND TURKEY’S NON-INTERFERENCE IN SYRIA CRISIS

February 27, 2013 – 16:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran’s Armenian community has launched a rally
outside Turkish embassy in Tehran demanding Ankara stop interfering
in Syria’s internal affairs.

A statement voiced during the February 27 rally mentioned the Turkey’s
bloody past and the Armenian Genocide, urging objectivity in solution
of the Syria crisis.

The rally was guarded by the police, Hayeli Iran-based Armenian
daily said.

ZHAMANAK: MEGHRI RESIDENTS NOT AFRAID OF GOVERNOR

Wednesday,
February 27

“Zhamanak” daily writes that Governor of Syunik province Suren
Khachatrian ordered employees of all state institutions to stay at
home today and not attend the rally of Raffi Hovannisian.

Meghri residents told the daily that “they are not afraid of the
governor”.

TODAY, 12:22

Aysor.am

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE AT PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE TONIGHT

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 27, 13:26

National Security Council of Armenia will convene at President Serzh
Sargsyan’s residence tonight, Galust Sahakyan, Head of the Republican
Party Faction in the Parliament told ArmInfo.

“Serzh Sargsyan’s team has coped with the tasks set and won the
election. Therefore, no staff reshuffles are expected,” Sahakyan said.

He thinks that staff reshuffles will be studied only after inauguration
of the president when a new Cabinet will be created.

Sahakyan said that the Cabinet will be created depending on the
professional qualifications of its potential members.

He refuted Mass Media rumors that the newly elected parliamentarian
from the Republican Party, businessman Arman Sahakyan will be appointed
Shirak Governor following Ashot Giziryan’s dismissal for failing the
election in favor of the Republican Party in the given region.

“Issue of the new governor of the Shirak region has not been studied
by the RPA,” Sahakyan said.

SOAR SEEKS SPONSORSHIP FOR AGAPPY CARUKYAN

Warm Hearth is a private group home housing approximately 13
orphans with disabilities and mental illnesses who have outgrown the
state-funded orphanages. Located outside of Yerevan in 3rd village,
Warm Hearth provides each resident with an alternative to psychiatric
institutions and offers holistic care in a family-like setting.

The Sponsorship Program is the primary mechanism through which SOAR
provides support to specific orphans. We are seeking sponsorship funds
($600/year) that will be used entirely and exclusively for Agappy
Carukyan (picture and profile below).

Name: Agappy Carukyan

Facility: Warm Hearth

Gender: Female

DOB: August 8, 1978

Father’s name/Occupation: Janik Carukyan/Unknown

Mother’s name/Occupation: Unknown

Sibling(s): One sister, Varsik

Family history: Unknown

Health history and current medical conditions: Agappy has a general
developmental disability. She also has other medical conditions,
including frequent fainting episodes.

Special interests, talents, and hobbies:Agappy is a remarkable and
content. She loves to work in the garden and enjoys physical work.

She has made the Warm Hearth garden beautiful and is calmed by working
with the earth. Agappy also enjoys participating in house work,
helping staff in the kitchen, and creating handcrafts. She loves to
dance and dreams of doing gardening work for pay.

If you would like to sponsor Agappy ($50/mo. payment plan available),
please contact George S. Yacoubian, Jr., at [email protected]
or enroll and select Agappy through the Sponsorship Program.

Thank you in advance for your support!

The Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian relief to
orphaned Armenian children and adults. Working with a loyal donor
base and a trusted network of partners, SOAR distributes clothing,
educational supplies, medicine, and other essential resources to
orphaned Armenians throughout the world.

SOCIETY FOR ORPHANED ARMENIAN RELIEF (SOAR) 1060 First Avenue, Suite
400, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office: 610.213.3452 Fax: 610.229.5168
Email: [email protected] Web:

ARMENIAN JOURNALIST DIED IN SYRIA

11:32, 27 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRAURY 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Mihran Yusef Khaghrdyan,
aged 77, journalist, announcer died by a heart attack in Syria on
February 25. Damascus based Nazaret Elmagyan told Armenpress, our
compatriot Khaghrdyan was one of the leading announcers in Syrian
state television. “Berio news” facebook page informs, Mihran Yusef
Khaghrdyan’s father was Armenian, mother was Arab. Khaghrdyan was
dedicated to his job. He had received many job suggestions, yet he
could just not leave Damascus. Khaghrdyan was engaged in journalism
for 45 years. Before doing journalism he was the headmaster of an
Armenian school.

GAGIK MINASIAN REMINDS AZERBAIJANI DELEGATE ABOUT MUTALIBOV’S WORDS

Wednesday,
February 27

At the meeting dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC)
in Istanbul, Azerbaijani delegate Asad Hajiyev made a speech, in which
he presented Azerbaijan’s version of the Khojalu events. The head of
the Armenian delegation to BSEC Gagik Minasian told this to Aysor.am.

Following the speeches, G. Minasian took the floor and responded to
the Azerbaijani delegate.

“I said that I didn’t consider it expedient to speak about the Khojalu
events at the meeting and that I would limit myself to quoting the
former Azerbaijani President Mutalibov. He said the killings in Khojalu
were organized and committed by members of Azerbaijan’s National
Front with the aim of weakening the position of the authorities and
seizing power at that time. I would like to stress once again that
the then President of Azerbaijan Mutalibov said that.

This fact tells its own story,” G. Minasian said.

26.02.2013, 18:14

Aysor.am

ARMENIAN POLITICAL ANALYSTS ON RUSSIAN EXPERT’S STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

TERT.AM
09:32 ~U 27.02.13

Preservation of status-quo in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
process is more probable for the coming 2-3 years, former foreign
minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan said, speaking to Tert.am.

“But the processes promising inclusive geo-political changes have
essentially accelerated in the world and in this pre-context we may
speak only of short-term forecasts,” he said.

His last remark relates to the statement of Alexander Dugin, head
of Sociology and International Relations chair at Moscow State
University, leader of Eurasian Union international movement, made
in Yerevan yesterday that the most optimal variant in the situation
created over Nagorno Karabakh is preservation of the status quo.

Russian political analyst stressed that de facto status is beneficial
for Armenia and de jure for Azerbaijan and Iran. The latter does
not want Armenia’s weakening nor Azerbaijan’s strengthening and vice
versa and is also for preservation of status quo.

The Russian political analyst said that Nagorno Karabakh issue will
never be solved.

Judging from Arman Melikyan’s responses his views in this respect
essentially differ from the assessments of the Russian analyst. “It
is the case when even the interests of Russia or Iran cannot create
long-term guarantees in respect of preservation of regional security
and peace,” Melikyan said.

Thus, Melikyan thinks that the Armenian authorities in particular
must have clear ideas of the general orientation of these changes
and the real dangers they contain for Armenia.

Commenting on Dugin’s statement, chairman of the Armenian Union
of Political Analysts Hmayak Hovannisian said it testifies that the
Karabakh conflict is solved, describing the Russian analyst as “Russian
guru of patriots” not displaying much friendliness toward Armenia.

In any case Melikyan does not share Hovannisian’s optimism in the
issue. “In my opinion the Artsakh’s future has not got a political
solution yet it is dangling in the air and consequently we have still
a lot to do in near future to be able to neutralize the possible
dangers stemming from the unsolved issue,” Karabakh’s ex FM said.

Chairman of the Globalization and Regional Cooperation analytical
center’s council Stepan Grigoryan commenting on the Russian analyst’s
statement said, “I think it is necessary to ask the Azerbaijanis
whether status quo is beneficial or not. Dugin states that it is,
while I think it is not.”

But Grigoryan agreed with Dugin that status quo is beneficial for
Russia. “Because Russia does not know what will happen if the Karabakh
issue is solved. Naturally, if Armenia and Azerbaijan become more
independent the degree of sovereignty will grow,” he noted.

As to Armenia, Grigoryan said he partially agrees that status quo is
in some respect beneficial for it as the Azerbaijani tough stance is
quite known. “But in future, it is obvious that starting from some
moment the Karabakh issue must be solved,” the analyst said.