Syrian and Armenian musicians participate in a Concert in Yerevan marking Evacuation Day
On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Evacuation Day, the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Armenia held a concert in cooperation with the Armenian Symphony Orchestra of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
The concert is led by the Director General of the Dar Al Assad for Culture and Art, Maestro Missak Baghboudarian, and with the participation of the Dean of the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus, Maestro, Adnan Fathallah, on the stage of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet After A. Spendiaryan – Yerevan.
The concert included presenting musical works by Syrian composers from the first generation and the new generation. The concert’s program began with the presentation of the work “Longa” by the Syrian composer of Armenian origin “Luanis Vartanian,” who lived in Aleppo in the first half of the twentieth century and wrote a large number of musical compositions in oriental styles, such as Al-Samai and Lunga.
The work presented in the concert was orchestrally prepared by the Syrian composer and bouzouk player Muhammad Othman.
The concert’s program also included presenting the works of the late musicians Salhi Al-Wadi and Nouri Al-Rahibani.
Among the works of young Syrian composers, the work of composer Shiraz Ayarian was presented during the concert.
The Syrian Oud had a distinguished presence in the concert’s program by presenting two works written and performed solo by Maestro Adnan Fathallah, namely “Mirror” and “Caprice No. 1”.
The evening concluded with a work called “Dabkeh” by Maestro Fathallah.
Maestro Baghboudarian said: ” choosing the date of the concert on April 17, is due to the national importance of this occasion for Syria and its people”.
He pointed out that the event was organized by the Syrian Embassy in Armenia, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and at the invitation and cooperation of the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan.
“This ceremony comes as a first step in the process of reactivating cultural relations between Syria and Armenia, specifically within the harsh conditions of the siege imposed on Syria”.
Maestro Baghboudarian pointed out that this is the first time that Syrian musicians have been invited to give a concert at the Yerevan Opera Theater.
In turn, Maestro Fathallah said: “The cooperation of all parties in Syria and Armenia to present Syria’s civilized image through culture is an important initiative to convey the message of the Syrian people through music, which reflects the depth of their authentic intellectual and heritage divesity.
Souha Suleiman