Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Vanadzor-born pianist Nareh Arghamanyan on East Coast tour
by Ara Arakelian

Published: Saturday October 13, 2012

Nareh Arghamyan. Courtesy image by Julia Wesely

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Nareh Arghamanyan to perform debut recital at Frick Collection

Nareh Arghamanyan wins top prize in Montreal competition

Boston – When she takes the stage at the Calderdwood Hall of the
Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston on Sunday, October 21, Nareh
Arghamanyan would be making her professional debut. It won’t be the
23-year-old pianist’s first concert in Boston, however.

She played a recital in 2004 at age 14 at the Longy School of Music in
Cambridge, MA, under the auspices of Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and
Educational Association. And in 2008, after capturing the first prize
at the coveted International Montreal Music Competition, she performed
with the Boston Pops for the Armenian Night at the Pops.

Born in Vanadzor, Armenia, Arghamanyan has played the piano since the
age of five. Three years later she began her studies with Alexander
Gurgenov at the Tchaikovsky Music School for Talented Children in
Yerevan. In 2004 she was the youngest student to be admitted to the
University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where she studied
with Heinz Medjimorec and continues chamber music studies with Avo
Kouyoumdjan. She has attended the prestigious summer studies program
both at Tanglewood in Massachusetts and the Marlboro Music Festival in
Vermont. Since 2010, she has been working with Arie Vardi in Hannover,
Germany. Nareh is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes,
including the 2007 Piano Campus International Competition in Pontoise,
France, and the Jose Roca Competition in Valencia, Spain.

Now under professional management on both sides of the Atlantic,
Arghamanyan is in her 2nd season of artistic engagements, a busy
schedule of recitals and soloist appearances around the world.
Highlights include a recent performance of the Saint-Saens’ second
piano concerto with the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich with Sir Neville
Marriner, and upcoming appearances with the Gewandhaus Orchestra of
Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly, and performances with Oslo Opera
Orchestra, Bern Symphony Orchestra as well as the Vancouver; Columbus,
Ohio, and Utah Symphony Orchestras. Last season, she appeared as
soloist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber
Orchestra and in recitals in such esteemed venues as the Berlin
Philharmonie and Tonhalle Zurich.

Nareh’s performances have prompted enthusiastic response. The
Independent of London commented: “Arghamanyan’s playing is compulsive,
emotional yet remarkably ‘complete’ for such a young musician… –
sensitive, unaffected, genuine.” And the Los Angeles Times raved about
her “clarity of articulation, firm tone and emotional restraint.”

In April 2012 Nareh Arghamanyan released her debut recording with solo
works by Rachmaninoff for the Dutch label Pentatone. This is followed
by a Liszt concerto disc (to be released this month) with the Berlin
Radio Symphony Orchestra and Alain Altingolu. Previously the Analekta
label released a disc of the sonatas by Rachmaninoff and Liszt to
great acclaim. In the liner notes for the solo Rachmaninoff album,
Nareh writes about her convictions and affinity for the composer’s
music: “I think American writer Kurt Vonnegut may have been inspired
by Rachmaninoff’s artistry when he prescribed his own epitaph `the
only proof he needed for the existence of God was Music.’ If my
performances can elicit even a single soul to ponder the same
thoughts, I would feel gratified.”

Sunday’s performance at the Gardner museum will feature music of Bach
(partita No. 2 in c-minor), the Fantasiestucke Op. 12 by Schumann and
a set of Etude Tableaux by Sergei Rachmaninoff. More information about
the concert can be found at

Ms. Arghamanyan repeats her recital program in Philadelphia on October
24 at the American Philosophical Society, presented by the
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (), and in New
York on October 28 at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre
().

Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the participants of the 2nd
Armenian-Russian Interregional Conference

16:27, 13 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the
participants and guests of the 2nd Armenian-Russian Interregional
Conference. as the Press Service of the President of the Republic
Armenia informed “Armenpress” in his address President said:

“My warm greetings to the representatives of authorities, business and
public circles, guests and participants of the 2nd Armenian-Russian
Interregional Conference that is held in Yerevan.

Armenia and Russia are connected by age old fraternal and amicable
relations. Modern principals of federal partnership and strategic
cooperation are based on the foundation of this relationship.

We closely and systematically cooperate in frames of issues of
international agenda and in different spheres of economics, scientific
technologies and humanitarian realms. We highly appreciate relations
with our Russian friends aimed to the concrete achievements, as well
as constructive and effective dialogue, that always makes new
opportunities for development of our partnership.

One of the most effective means encouraging cooperation between our
countries is Armenian-Russian Interregional Conference, which in a
short period of time gained reputation a necessary arena for
constructive dialogue among Armenian and Russian authorities,
representatives of business and scientific community. It is of a
certain importance, that such cooperation spreads over more and more
Russian regions ranging from Western and North-Western parts to
Siberia and Far East.

The prospective goal is the active progress of the important projects
aimed to the future growth of our national economies, provision of
their competitiveness in international markets via passing to the
innovational way of development and investment of progressive
technologies.

I wish all the participants of the conference efficient work and new
achievements on behalf of our republics and nations”.

Heritage Party refuses Free Democrats’ support at presidential elections

arminfo
Friday, October 12, 23:52

Leader of Free Democrats Party Khachatur Kokobelyan has once again
told a lie in public, Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian says
in a statement concerning Kokobelyan’s statement that there was no
agreement between the two parties’ leaders about simultaneous
withdrawal from their deputy mandates.

Hovannisian says that he is sorry for the honest and promising young
men, who unselfishly devoted themselves to the electoral campaign of
Heritage and Free Democrats during the parliamentary elections of
2012.

In the meantime, Hovannisian stresses that the joint fight of Heritage
and Free Democrats was not a mistake, it was like know-how in the
political field of Armenia. The mistake was a person’s lie and other
persons’ ungrounded trust in a “word of honor”. The Heritage Leader
says that he could say nothing about this, but decided to tell the
truth because he feels responsible for his fellow citizens.
Hovannisian says that Kokobelyan’s support in any issue is
unacceptable to him.

To note, Heritage and Free Democrats participated in the parliamentary
elections of 2012 with a single list and obtained 6 mandates.
According to Heritage Leader Raffi Hovannisian, he and Free Democrats
Leader Khachatur Kokobelyan agreed to put down their mandates
simultaneously. Hovannisian put down his mandate, but Kokobelyan said
that there was no such an agreement between them and refused to put
down his deputy mandate. However, Kokobelyan said that if Hovannisian
runs for president in 2013, Free Democrats will support Hovannisian’s
candidacy.

Celebrities’ statues best project for Yerevan now – artist

tert.am
16:30 – 13.10.12

The author of sitting statues placed in Yerevan as part of the project
Our Geniuses are Beside us considers his sculptures urban
illustrations which bear a temporary nature.

Suren Melkonyan, who has created the statues of the several renowned
Armenian writers and other celebrities, told a news conference on
Saturday that the project initially aimed to slightly change the
capital city’s appear.

`I don’t know. Perhaps everybody had great expectations. This is an
urban illustration. We wanted the city to change its image a little
bit and to introduce some liveliness,’ he said, admitting in the
meantime that he would like the sculptures to feature a better
composition.

Asked whether it is possible to make statues of non-fragile materials,
he answered, `If there is a project clearly aimed at making long
living sculptures, then yes. But this is the best that could have been
done. We couldn’t place stone on wood. All we needed was to change the
city’s image a little.’

So far, the statues of the great Armenian actor, Mher Mkrtchtan,
renowned writers Yeghishe Charents, Paruyr Sevak and Hrant Matevosyan,
and chess player Tigran Petrosyan have been placed on street and park
benches in Yerevan. Mher Lazarian’s statues was earlier reported to
have been damaged and repaired a few times.

Time has come for closer interregional cooperation between Armenia and
Russia – Armenian PM

NEWS.AM
October 13, 2012 | 13:36

YEREVAN. – The Armenian-Russian Interregional Forum kicked off in
Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, and Armenia’s Premier Tigran Sargsyan was
on hand at the event’s official opening.

In his welcoming remarks, Sargsyan expressed a hope that this forum
will contribute to developing ties between both countries, the
Government pres service informs.

`The interrelations between Armenia and Russia are a strategic
partnership. A political and an economic discourse is established.
Today, the time has come for a closer interregional cooperation. We
need to strengthen the mutual information space, [and] create a
database for the regional markets of both countries,’ the PM said.

The Premier recalled that an economic cooperation program was signed
Friday between Armenia and Russia, and until the year 2020. `This is a
systemic document which reveals the directions for economic
cooperation. [And] The regions must take an active part in carrying
out events,’ Tigran Sargsyan noted.

Tigran Sargsyan added that one of the Armenian Government’s priorities
is the development of regional infrastructures. `We are exerting
efforts so that the quality of live in the villages be same as urban
conditions. Our regions have an enormous potential for tourism
development. [And] Armenia’s sanitariums are turning into tourism
centers,’ Sargsyan noted.

Also, the PM presented Armenia’s current economic situation and growth
rate and opportunities.

Separately, several documents were signed within the framework of the
Armenian-Russian Interregional

The Georgian elections and their consequences

14:59 13.10.2012

Lena Badeyan
`Radiolur’

The parliamentary elections in Georgia will inevitably leave their
impact on the region from the point of view of new geopolitical
developments, President of the New Times Party Aram Karapetyan has
concluded form the recent developments.

He hopes that the Russian factor will gradually start playing a role
in Georgia and the diplomatic relations will be restored. He believes
this will be positive to us.

Expert on issues of Georgian Armenians Haykazun Alvrtsyan is first of
all interested in how Bidzina Ivanishvili’s victory will affect the
Armenians of Javakhk. The expert is not very enthusiastic in this
regard.

Bidzina Ivanishvilis’ statement about Armenians following the
elections and his further explanations prove that Georgia’s policy
towards Armenians will not undergo changes, Alvrtsyan said.

There is no need to officially respond to Ivanishvili’s statements,
Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party Edward Sharmazanov says.
Instead, Armenia was one of the first to congratulate Ivanishvili on
victory.

Georgy Mkhchyan, Arrested Georgian Dream Member, Talks to Hetq
Kristine Aghalaryan

HETQ
12:00, October 13, 2012

Georgy Mkhchyan, an Armenian member of the Georgian Dream opposition
political alliance, responds to Hetq questions.

Mkhchyan was arrested on June 24 of this year on charges of real
estate fraud. Investigators from the Georgian Ministry of Finance had
accused Mkhchyan of falsifying documents regarding the purchase of a
building that was turned into the regional office of the alliance in
Akhalkalak.

He has been released on his own recognizance. His trial continues on October 25.

What is your connection to the privatization of the cultural center
onQueen Tamar Streetin Akhalkalak?

I have no connection to that transaction. I purchased the building in
2005 and processed all the paperwork. I handed the paperwork to
someone else to review. I’ve had no problems since. I rented the
building to another person from 2008 to 2009. There is no problem with
the building. Everything was legally processed.

The charges dealt with what documents specifically?

There is no specific document and the prosecution has no such document.

So on what basis did they arrest you?

In May I rented the first floor of the building to Georgian Dream.
That’s when the problems began – telephone calls from the police. They
wanted to know why I had rented the space to Georgian Dream and
threatened to detain me. And that’s what they did, they arrested me.

Who specifically called and threatened you?

Police investigator Bourdjanadze called me. He said that the police
chief wanted to talk to me and told me to visit the office. The police
chief didn’t talk to me but I could hear his voice in the background.
But he had made it known to my friends that I should cancel the rental
agreement or else I’d be arrested. They were just looking for an
excuse.

Was there any kind of pressure direct6ed against you during your arrest?

Sure there was, but because I was a political prisoner they were
afraid to resort to more forceful measures. When I was first arrested,
an examiner from the Ministry of Finance plopped down a huge stack of
files in front of me and ordered me to sign them. They were all in
Georgian, so I didn’t understand a thing. I replied that I wouldn’t
sign anything unless my lawyer was present. The official said it
didn’t matter if my lawyer came or not; I would be sent to jail. When
I asked him why, he answered that I knew perfectly well and that it
was because I had rented the space to Georgian Dream. I never signed
those documents. By the time my lawyer arrived, the papers were gone.

What are you planning to do now after being released?

I will continue my collaboration with Georgian Dream.

Is it possible that the alliance will give you a post in Akhalkalak?

I don’t want one.

Iravunk: Ambassador Heffern to reconcile Hovannisian and Kokobelyan

12:02 12/10/2012 » Daily press

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern took up the mission of
reconciling the leaders of Heritage and Free Democrats parties, Raffi
Hovannisian and Khachatur Kokobelyan, Iravunk daily reports.

Besides, he asked these parties to take part in the defense of Vartan
Oskanian, which was not accepted unanimously by Heritage party.
Moreover, the party’s youth wing strongly protested against it.
Heritage young activist David Sanasaryan wrote on Facebook that he
will not participate in Oskanian’s pre-election PR campaign.

Source: Panorama.am

Operation of Stepanakert airport quite natural – Swiss MP

NEWS.AM
October 13, 2012 | 14:12

The citizens of Karabakh need freedom of movement, Swiss lawmaker said
commenting on the opening of Stepanakert airport.

Dominique de Buman, co-chair of Armenia-Switzerland parliamentary
friendship group, noted all the borders, excluding the road connecting
Karabakh to Armenia, are closed. Therefore, opening of the airport is
natural, he said in an interview with Azat Artsakh newspaper.

Switzerland’s mission is to encourage and maintain peace processes, he
said recalling that his country will take over the OSCE presidency in
2013.

It is a 500-year-old tradition, Switzerland offers its mediation to
the nations willing to find longstanding and stable solution, Buman
said during his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh.

He noted Switzerland is striving to maintain good relations with all
regional states but the sides must have mutual understanding and come
to compromise.

As to extradition and pardon of Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov, Buman said they were appalled seeing glorification of the
criminal.

Armenian and Russian presidents consider Armenian-Russian
interregional forum to be a serious stimulus for realization of new
programs

11:10, 13 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Age old relations linking Armenia and
Russia to each other are developing in basis of strategic and
fraternal cooperation. As reports “Armenpress” this was announced by
the Head of the Stuff of President of the Republic of Armenia Vigen
Sargsyan who introduced greetings of the president of the Republic of
Armenia to the participants of the conference. Armenian president is
hopeful that the conference will encourage new dialogue between the
regions of the two countries. President of the Republic of Armenia
mentioned the following: “This forum is an arena for an open and
effective dialogue. It is of great importance to involve more and more
regions from Armenia and Russia in the cooperation”. Armenian
president is hopeful that the conference will support competitiveness
in international sphere.

The Head of the Department of Interregional and Cultural Relations of
the Stuff of the President of Russia Vladimir Chernov represented
greeting speech of the Russian President. Vladimir Putin mentioned:
“The conference is supported by wide public circles and it is uniting
different structures of state administration. The development of
Armenian-Russian strategic relations will support relations between
regions of the two countries, creation of more favorable conditions
for realization of different programs in realms of trade, agriculture,
services etc.”. In his opinion Armenia and Russia are united with
history and common spiritual values.

Armenian-Russian interregional second conference is held in Yerevan,
which is entitled as “Armenia and Russia: Interregional
Dialogue-2012”.