MONTREAL OPERA IS LAVISH AND POWERFUL
By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT
Sept 19 2005
MONTREAL – Bellini’s “Norma” is grand opera with all of its spectacle
– a big chorus and processions, virtuosic singing and lavish costumes
and staging.
It is also an opera masterpiece – one with a powerful human story
delivered through its music.
L’Opera de Montreal opened a beautiful production of “Norma,” Saturday
at Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Armenian soprano Hasmik
Papian had a powerful presence in the title role, and Music Director
Bernard Labadie conducted a sensitive and dramatic performance.
“Norma” is one of the few masterpieces of the bel canto period, early
19th century Italian opera. By that time, opera had become a popular
entertainment in Italy, much like today’s Broadway musicals. They
were written fast and furiously as composers traveled from city to
city writing and producing an opera in several weeks, then moving on
to the next city and the next opera. Thus, the operas were largely
formulaic, each requiring the requisite amount of pomp and pageant.
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) was one of those traveling composers,
most of his operas were written in this factory-like manner – and
most of them are largely forgotten.
“Norma,” with a libretto by Felice Romani, on the other hand, has
remained in the standard opera repertoire since it premiered at La
Scala in Milan in 1831. Certainly it has the required chorus and
processions, as well as an exotic setting, but it also has a powerful
human story – one that remains as contemporary now as it was when
the opera premiered or when it was set, nearly 2,000 years ago.
Norma is a Druid high priestess in Roman-occupied Gaul. Secretly, she
has been having an affair with the Roman consul Pollione, resulting
in two children. But Pollione has tired of Norma and has begun a
relationship with the young novice priestess Adalgisa.
When Norma discovers this affair, Adalgisa is torn between loyalty
to Norma and her faith and her human love. Norma, too, is torn,
between loving her children and her faith, and her passion and anger
toward Pollione. What ensues is the stuff of all romantic tragedy,
and Bellini’s music brings it across with relish and flourish. In
short, it’s a real tear-jerker.
Papian had a powerful presence as Norma. In her Montreal Opera debut,
she used her rich, terribly beautiful soprano lyri-cally, plying each
line with sensitivity and finesse. She used the lyrical approach rather
than Greek-American diva Maria Callas’ famous dramatic approach,
where the emotion in the words within the line were emphasized
musically. But Papian was convincing, beautifully so.
Papian’s performance of the famous “Casta Diva (Chaste goddess)”
was certainly beautiful. But it was her tender “Deh! Non voleri
vittime del mio fatale errore (Oh, do not let them be the victims of
my cruel mistake)” at the end where she pleads for her children that
was devastating and beautiful.
The other major role was Adalgisa, and it was sung beautifully –
though without much drama – by American mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich.
Still, when called for, she delivered a beautiful tenderness with
her rich warm mezzo voice.
Playing Pollione was American tenor Antonio Nagore, macho, yet with
a beautiful soft-edged voice. On Saturday, it took him a little time
to warm up, but when he did it was beautiful.
The production, directed by Stephen Pickover, had all the necessary
grandness, yet was convincing on a dramatic level, utilizing simple
but haunting settings from New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Labadie led
L’Orchestre Metropolitain du Grand Montreal and the Opera Chorus in
a not always refined, but a sensitive and dramatic performance.
L’Opera de Montreal’s production of “Norma” was traditional grand
opera, yet full of intimate human drama.

CHEESE 2005 – NEW INTERNATIONAL CHEESE PRESIDIA
SlowFood, Italy
Sept 19 2005
On Saturday, at ‘Cheese 2005’ (Bra, September 16-19), Piero Sardo,
President of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, presented a
series of new Slow Food Cheese Presidia from all over the world.
Agnesa Sargsyan, of the Motal Presidium (Armenia), accompanied by
producer Vanik Chgroyan spoke about their distinctive goat cheese,
matured in clay to preserve it for the winter. Today it is only
produced by families, but the Presidium hopes to create new markets,
hence improved development prospects.
Kamal Mouzawak, a journalist and Slow Food representative based in
Beirut, amazed the audience with Darfiyeh, a raw goat’s milk cheese
preserved with layers of ricotta in a goat skin, washed, sewn and
salted on the inside.
Another product that captured the public’s imagination was Yak Cheese
from the Chinese province of Qinghai. Paola Vanzo, a representative
of the Trace Foundation, a New York City-based non-profit NGO for the
promotion of the cultural continuity and sustainable development of
Tibetan communities within China, explained how, in collaboration with
AVEC (Association of Veterinary Surgeons for Developing Countries)
and the Slow Food Foundation, it has been possible to build a dairy
for a school for nomad children founded by the Tibetan monk, Jigme
Gyaltse, who was also present at the meeting.
Two young Italian cheesemakers, Massimo Nurisso and Massimo Mercandino
went to Tibet for a few months to teach herders a processing technique
that allows them to produce a cheese suitable for aging, hence for
surviving the long journeys required to reach new markets.
Mihai Pasku of the Brânza de burduf Presidium (Romania) proudly
described the history of his native area and the cheese that reflects
its identity. As the producer Dorin Olteanu pointed out, Brânza can
age from 40 days to several months and the more it matures the more
piquant it becomes.
Last but not least, Pascale Baudonnel, dressed in a colorful
traditional Norwegian costume, outlined the history of artisan
Geitost, produced in the village of Undredal on the fjord of Sogne,
a sweet brown cheese made with the whey from raw goat’s milk. It is
currently produced only by the Undredal Stolsysteri cooperative.
–Boundary_(ID_jM5q6dM1fsvRwNaHLStKWg)–

RULER OF SHARJAH ARRIVING IN YEREVAN TODAY
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 06:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 19-21 His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin
Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah
will pay a visit to Armenia, RA MFA press office reported. He is
expected to meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan.
Besides, Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi will attend the
Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victim and the National Art Gallery,
where the Days of Culture of Sharjah will open. His Highness will hold
meetings with the teaching staff and students of the Yerevan State
University, members of the National Academy of Sciences and visit the
Depository of Ancient Manuscripts of Matenadaran. He is also expected
to pay a call to the racetrack and visit Sevan and Dilijan.

SENIOR CPC OFFICIAL MEETS ARMENIAN GUESTS
Xinhua news agency, China
Sept 19 2005
BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhuanet) — Luo Gan, member of the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party
(CPC) Central Committee, met here Monday with Tigran Torosyan, deputy
speaker of the National Assembly and vice chairman of the Republican
Party of Armenia.
Luo said China and Armenia have improved bilateral relations ina
comprehensive way, strengthened political trust and made their
cooperation fruitful since the two countries forged diplomatic ties
in 1992. He expressed the belief that Sino-Armenian ties would be
further enhanced with endeavors of the two sides.
He appreciates the adherence of Armenia to China’s stance on theissues
of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.
Luo said the CPC would like to promote cooperation with all parties
in Armenia including the Armenian Republican Party in a bid to promote
an all-round and sustainable relations between the two countries.
Torosyan said Armenia attaches great importance to the relations
with China and adheres to the one-China policy. He said Armenia hopes
to further strengthen exchanges with the CPC and push forward their
cooperation in all fields. Enditem.

HOUSE MULLS ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
Middle East Newsline, Canada
Sept 19 2005
WASHINGTON [MENL] — The House of Representatives was expected to
examine a resolution that blames Turkey for the genocide of Armenians
in World War I.
The House International Relations Committee has passed two resolutions
that blame the Ottoman Empire for the killing of about 1.5 million
Armenians in Turkey from 1915-1923. On Sept. 15, the committee voted
for the resolutions by wide margins despite warnings from the Bush
administration that this could harm U.S.-Turkish relations.
The resolutions demands that Turkey accept responsibility for
the killing of Armenians and that the U.S. president consider the
genocide in American foreign policy. The House panel also called for
U.S. commemoration of the Armenian genocide.
House International Relations Committee chairman Rep. Henry Hyde
voted for the resolutions. Hyde said the resolutions would not harm
relations with Turkey.

US COMMITTEE PASSES RESOLUTIONS RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 19 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Relations Committee of the U.S.
House of Representatives late Thursday adopted two resolutions
recognizing the Armenian ‘genocide’ allegations. The first resolution
was adopted by 35 votes to 11, and the second was adopted 40-7.
The International Relations Committee passed the resolutions despite
the U.S. Department of State sending the committee a letter opposing
this move.
Matthew Reynolds, U.S. acting assistant secretary of state for
legislative affairs, sent a letter to committee Chairman Henry Hyde
saying that the U.S. administration was against the adoption of
these resolutions.
In his letter, Reynolds also underlined that discussion of this matter
by the full House of Representatives was against national interests,
would harm Turkish-U.S. relations, and hamper the development of
relations between Ankara and Yerevan. Also, Reynolds said that the
U.S. not only continued to support the discussion of this matter by
scholars, diplomats, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), but
also aims to encourage the Turkish and Armenian governments towards
forging economic and political dialogue.
Reynolds also said that these resolutions would harm the U.S. and
Turkeys’ concerted efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus,
Central Asia, and the Middle East. He underlined Turkey’s importance
in reinforcing democracy, tolerance, regional peace, and stability.
“I don’t believe that adoption of the resolutions would damage
bilateral relations,” replied Hyde. “Rejection of the ‘genocide’
reality can’t be justified. I particularly want to stress that Turkey
or Turkish people aren’t responsible for the alleged crime. I also want
to appreciate the Turkish government’s efforts for reconciliation.”
Armenian lobby in the US argues that the 1915 communal clashes and
other Armenian killings were ‘genocide while Turkey has never accepted
the accusations. Turkey argues that the events were a civil war and
under the war circumstances both Turks and Armenians were killed by
the armed groups. More than 520.000 Turkish and Kurdish were massacred
by the Armenian armed groups during the First World War.
Turkey was one of the first state who recognized the independent
Armenia in 1991. However when Armenian forces occupied about 20
percent of neighboring Azerbaijan, Turkey did not established
diplomatic relations with Yerevan and urged Armenia to withdraw
from the occupied territories. European Union and OSEC also urged
Armenians to withdraw and both institutions named Armenia ‘occupier’
in Karabakh region. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia have very close
relations with the EU, US and Israel while Armenia has developed
close relations with Russia and Iran since the independence.
In United States there is a strong Armenian lobby and tries to affect
the Washington’s Turkey and Caucasus policies.

UNICEF’s PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLENNIUM ARMENIAN CHILDREN’S VACCINATION FUND HELPS SAVE CHILDREN’S LIVES
Armenpress
Sept 19, 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Partnering with Armenian Diaspora
organizations such as the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccination
Fund (MACVF) is crucial for successful implementation of programs
benefiting children, UNICEF said today, speaking of the importance
of the vaccination program in Armenia.
“UNICEF values highly its partners in the Diaspora, and one of our
most important partnerships in Armenia is with the Millennium Armenian
Children’s Vaccination Fund. Financial support to UNICEF from MACVF
has enabled us to procure essential vaccines for Armenian children
and has helped to sustain the high immunization rate in the country,”
UNICEF Representative, Sheldon Yett noted.
UNICEF and the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccination Fund sealed
a long-term partnership agreement in 2002 in order to support the
implementation of the National Immunization Program in Armenia. The
agreement covers the 2002-2009 period during which the Millennium
Armenian Children’s Vaccination Fund pledged to provide 500,000 USD
for procurement of vaccines to prevent such deadly childhood diseases
as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria.
MACVF has contributed over 100,000 USD to UNICEF to date. In 2005
alone, MACVF funding has enabled the immunization of approximately
100,000 children in Armenia against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus
and diphtheria. The assistance provided by MACVF to children in
Armenia is invaluable and has helped protect thousands of children
from serious illness. Not only do these children benefit directly from
the vaccinations, but immunization also provides a mechanism through
which health services can make contact with children and women whom
they need to reach with other interventions, further enhancing the
value of immunizations.
“We will continue to strengthen our relationships with Armenian
Diaspora organizations and will seek their active involvement in
the implementation of programs that contribute to the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals,” UNICEF Representative Sheldon
Yett stressed.

MORE THAN HALF WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS
A1+
| 12:32:10 | 19-09-2005 | Social |
The elections of the local governing bodies started yesterday. Before
the official data about the results of the elections and the percent
of participation of the electors we will represent the results of
our internet poll.
Asked the question “Will you participate in the upcoming elections of
local governing bodies” 55.8% of the readers said they would not. 34.2%
said they would. 6.1% said they would if they were not busy on the
election day. And 3.9% were undecided.
The poll question this week is “Will you participate in the
Constitutional Referendum? ” We expect your active participation.

COMSUP COMMODITIES PLEDGES 21 MILLION DRAMS TO MUNICIPALITY
Armenpress
Sept 19, 2005
KAPAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The owners of a copper and molybdenum
plant in the southern Armenian Agarak, near the border with Iran,
have pledged to release 21 million Armenian drams to the town for
resolution of its social problems.
Each month the town will receive 1.7 million drams. The plan’s 100
percent shares were privatized in 2003 April by a US-based Comsup
Commodities which has invested $3.5 million in its modernization.

SOCHI MUSEUM REPLENISHED WITH WORKS OF ARMENIAN ART
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 03:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The exhibition of Armenian modern paintings and
graphic arts opened in the Sochi art museum, Yerkramas, the newspaper
of Armenians of Russia reported. Most of the exhibits are from
private collections and a part of them has been already presented to
the museum. The works are remarkable for bright national coloring and
maintain the traditions of the Armenian art. Besides, unique carpets,
three of which were woven in the 18-th century and one at the beginning
of the 20-th, are displayed. The art workers rate the opening of the
exhibition of Armenian modern paintings and graphic arts as an eminent
event. They confess that such generous gifts are given too rarely.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress