Category: 2017

Music: Armenia: AMPTV sticks to Depi Evratesil format

Alex Nanijanian
ESC Today, EU
Oct 27 2017

Posted on .

Armenian national broadcaster AMPTV has announced to launch the second edition of the national selection Depi Evratesil. The call for submissions is now open. The winner is to represent the country at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

The format of Depi Evratesil was first introduced last year when, from hundreds of applications from all over the world, Artsvik eventually headed to Kiev with her song “Fly with Me” . However, in order to select her successor, the contest will undergo a big change. Unlike its previous edition the artists will compete by presenting their original songs, penned especially for this contest. While in the previous edition, candidates entered the competition mainly with world known hits or eurovision hits. The show is set to consist of four live shows.

The eligibility criteria does not seem to be changed. The candidates should hold Armenian citizenship or have Armenian heritage, be 16 years old by May 8th – the first Eurovision semifinal date. All the interested artists can find the full criteria and apply on for the competition on the website of AMPTV  by 15th December 2017.

Music: Prominent young Armenian cellist to perform in Wharton Center

Ani Kharatian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
– 18:31 AMT
Prominent young Armenian cellist to perform in Wharton Center

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra is coming to Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall led by Pavel Kogan and featuring prominent Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan on November 7.

The orchestra will enchant audiences with their bold sound and their ability to bring music to life in East Lansing, Michigan. The Los Angeles Times uses words like “passionate” and “revelatory” to put their concert experience into tangible description. The orchestra is one of the oldest and most revered orchestras in Russia.

Music Director and Chief Conductor Pavel Kogan has lead the orchestra since 1989. Kogan, an innovative leader in the musical world, has directed ensembles for over 40 years and is one of the world’s top conductors. On November 7th the orchestra will dazzle concertgoers with Wagner’s soaring Tristan und Isolde Overture, Robert Schumann’s entrancing Cello Concerto in A minor, and Jean Sibelius’ beautifully captivating Symphony No. 2.

Joining the Moscow orchestra is Hakhnazaryan, for Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A Minor. The young Armenian cellist took the audience’s breath away during his solo performance with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Since then he has earned critical acclaim with major orchestras around the globe, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was recently granted the title of Honored Artist of Armenia. The Strad magazine describes him as “dazzlingly brilliant.”

Film: “Yeva” drama premieres in Artsakh

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
Culture 13:14 27/10/2017NKR

Vallex Garden Cinema Hall in Stepanakert, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) hosted today the premiere of “Yeva” drama.

The Armenian-language film is a co-production between Armenia and Iran, written and directed by Anahid Abad. The film production was financed by the National Cinema Center of Armenia and Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation.

The drama centers on a woman who aspires to leave the grim past events of her life story to oblivion. With her daughter, she flees the Armenian capital Yerevan and takes refuge at her relatives’ home in the village of Artsakh. However, her past would not leave her at peace.

In an interview with Artsakhpress, film director Anahid Abad noted the core of the film is how war can distort human destinies, with its traces remaining in people’s heart throughout their whole life.

“The film shootings lasted for two months and were held in Stepanakert, Shushi, Kashatagh, Martakert, Martuni, with a short part of it filmed in Armenia in 2016. A professional film crew was involved in the film shooting. I am very impressed by the performance of the Artsakh people. Few people believed that this film would be screened, but we did it,” he noted.

Narine Grigoryan, playing one of the key roles in the film, says she incarnated someone completely different from who she is. “When I was watching the film, I did not imagine it was me playing the character. It is very pleasant to think you can also be that person. After this film, I realized I was afraid of nothing anymore. The film shootings were really a serious challenge for me,” she said.

Film: Karen Shahnazarov’s drama opens Russian Film Festival in Bucharest

Aram Torosian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
Culture 16:37 27/10/2017World

This year’s edition of Russian Film Festival kicked off in Bucharest on Thursday, October 26, with the screening of Anna Karenina – Vronsky’s Story, the latest drama by Russian-Armenian filmmaker Karen Shahnazarov, marking the director’s 65th anniversary.

The 8th edition of the Russian film festival which runs at Eforie Cinema until Sunday is organized by the Russian Embassy in Romania, the Russian Center for Science and Culture and Mosfilm cinema center, TASS reported.

The festival program also features screenings of other films from Shahnazarov’s filmography, such as We are from Jazz, The Horseman named Death, Winter Night in Gagra, Dreams, Courier and The Day of the Full Moon.

After Bucharest, the festival will continue its journey through other cities.

Sports: Mkhitaryan meets children with disabilities

Karakhanian Suren
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
Sport 13:38 27/10/2017World

Armenian national football team and Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan met with children with disabilities on the sidelines of the visit organized by Manchester United Foundation.

“In order to be better, you have to work hard, you have to believe in yourself and improve your qualities,” Mkhitaryan told one of the kids.

The Armenian footballer posted a video of the meeting on Facebook, adding the message: “Inspire a Child”.

Sports/Film: Russian Match TV to film an exclusive documentary about Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
Sport 19:48 27/10/2017World

Russian public sports channel Match TV has started filming an exclusive documentary about Armenian national football team captain and Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The news was shared by one of the TV channel’s football commentators Nobel Arustamyan on Instagram.

To note, this is the second film about Mkhitaryan produced by Match TV.

Earlier the Russian channel released a short documentary about the player’s childhood, family and his early career.

Tourism: Mount Nemrut and royal Armenian tomb attracted 52,000 tourists in 2017

Emil Lazarian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
– 10:16 AMT
Mount Nemrut and royal Armenian tomb attracted 52,000 tourists in 2017

Towering 2,134 meters over Turkey’s southeastern province of Adiyaman, Mount Nemrut – where a royal tomb built by Armenian kings is notably situated – has welcomed 52,000 visitors since the beginning of 2017, Director of Culture and Tourism Mustafa Ekinci said, according to Daily Sabah.

Known for its stunning sunset and sunrise views, Mount Nemrut holds a place in the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

One of the highest peaks of the Eastern Taurus mountain range in southeastern Turkey, Mount Nemrut is believed to have been the site of a first century royal tomb.

Armeninan King Antiochus I built monumental sculptures in his own honor at the mountain during the late Hellenistic period, including a temple tomb and house of the gods.

Other sculptures found at the site include two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian and Iranian gods, such as Vahagn-Hercules, Aramazd-Zeus or Oromasdes, Bakht-Tyche and Mihr-Apollo-Mithras.

Conservation laws and its status as a first degree archeological site have protected the historic mountain from destruction and deterioration.

While Mount Nemrut’s treasures can be admired any time of day, the site offers its full beauty at sunset.

Entertainment: Kim K Wore the Ultimate LWD to Her Belated Armenian-Style Birthday Celebration

Torgomian Varazdat
InStyle Mag.
Oct 27 2017
Kim K Wore the Ultimate LWD to Her Belated Armenian-Style Birthday Celebration
Lara Walsh

Oct 27, 2017 @ 7:45 am

Kim Kardashian West is taking it back to her roots for a belated birthday bash.

On Thursday night, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, who officially rang in her special day on Saturday, proved that one weekend of festivities just doesn’t cut it, as she continued to fete the milestone days later.

Stepping out with her sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, as well as momager, Kris Jenner, and hubby, Kanye West, the Kar-Jenner klan rang in the momentous occasion at Carousel Restaurant in Los Angeles for a big Armenian-style family dinner. 

The 37-year-old flaunted her enviable curves in a white minidress paired with a long leather blazer, strappy sandals, and a slick platinum ponytail. Inside the restaurant, the mom-to-be was gifted a white birthday cake topped with elaborate flower icing and, of course, a sultry photo of herself.

As an Arabic song plays in the background and the guests sing along, the half-Armenian reality star can be heard gushing in one of her Snapchats, “Armenian style! Oh yes! That’s so cute.”

Another clip shows the beautifully set table along with a glimpse of Kendall and Kourtney, who stepped out at the party with her boyfriend, Younes Bendjima, sans her pants in a roomy cream sweater and thigh-high suede boots—filming the cake.

While the social media maven spent her actual special day relaxing in a remote spa in Utah, it’s clear that a birthday celebration for Kim isn’t complete without being surrounded by her loved ones.

Book: ‘Lucy’s Birthday’: A New Picture Book by an Armenian Mother and Son

Hunanian Jack
Armenian Weekly
Oct 27 2017

By Contributor on

LEVERETT, Mass.—Looking for subject matter for a children’s book, artist and educator Stephen Saxenian found inspiration close to home in an autobiographical children’s story authored by his mother, writer and poet, Lucy Saxenian.

Using watercolor and pencil sketches Stephen brings back to life the story of Lucy’s fourth birthday, a journey and misadventure in the streets of Lowell, Mass., circa 1930.

Stephen’s illustrations capture his mother’s simple, gentle tale that nevertheless contains wit and authenticity. The story as a whole pays tribute to this Armenian immigrant family and their heritage.  Readers of all ages will delight in this tale.

Passing through the old neighborhoods of Lowell, Lucy’s Birthday takes the reader into the heart of the city, up and down the snowy streets, past the park and mills, over the Merrimack River and into her father’s tailor shop as Lucy and her sister go out on a quest for sugar for her birthday cake.

Watercolor by Stephen Saxenian, from Lucy’s Birthday (Watercolor courtesy of Stephen Saxenian)

“A gem…starting with the title. It evolves so effortlessly…and of course, the artwork…what a legacy for all involved,” New York based educator and artist Sona Kludjian said about the new publication.

Lucy’s Birthday, written by Lucy Saxenian and illustrated by Stephen Saxenian, was self-published and is available for purchase online via the following link:

Art: Martiros Saryan artworks to be exhibited in Moscow

David Nargizian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2017
Culture 17:21 27/10/2017Armenia

The Armenian Cultural Days in Russia will kick off on 15 November with the opening of a grand exhibition of Martiros Saryan’s art pieces at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the ministry of culture reported, citing Minister Armen Amiryan.

According to the source, Mr. Amiryan announced about it at the jubilee concert dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the activities of Martiros Saryan House-Museum, which was held at Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall on Thursday.

Director of Martiros Saryan House-Museum, Ruzan Saryan also informed that an agreement has been reached with the director of Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum in Moscow to jointly publish the painter’s album for theatrical and ballet performances.

To note, a conference launched at Martiros Saryan House-Museum on Thursday as part of the events marking the 50th anniversary of its establishment.

The two-day conference has brought together the representatives of those museums in Armenia and Russia, which keep and display the works of Martiros Saryan, one of the greatest Armenian painters of the 20th century.

The house-museum re-opened its doors in November 2016, after undergoing reconstruction, attracting some 30,000 visitors this year against the 4000 visits recorded previously.