Arts Digest : A capsule review and preview of art and entertainment in Armenia
By Gayane Abrahamyan, ArmeniaNow arts reporter

Armenianow.com
May 14, 2004

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: RA President Robert Kocharyan visited the
Armenian Center for Contemporary Art, to the opening ceremony of
the international festival of alternative art entitled “Dream in
the Dialogue”. Art critics from Armenia, Austria, Germany and Italy
participated in the festival, which is held for the sixth time in
succession. Paintings will be presented within the framework of the
festival till May 21, as well as the show of “One Shot, One Minute” and
“In the Room” films will be organized. The “Spandara” experimental
theater will stage a play performed by the motives of Simone de
Bovouar’s “Monologue” novel, and the “Pat” experimental theater will
stage Jean Paul Sartr’s same name story. Four prizes of $1,500 dollars
each are set for the best works presented at the festival.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: The annual award ceremony of RA President Robert
Kocharyan took place on May 7. Robert Poghossyan and Sons Fund is the
establisher of the award that is being held for the fourth year. As
every year, the nominees received diplomas, cash awards ($5000)
and a gold medal from the Poghossyans for their work done in 2003 .

“Reproduction Health” manual written by Razmik Abrahamyan and Gayane
Avagyan received the president’s prize in the healthcare sphere.

Professor Ashot Sukiasyan’s “Dictionary of Synonyms” received the prize
in the “Human Development and Humanities Values, Including Development
of the Humanities” nomination. The president of the republic personally
approached and handed the prize to the outstanding scholar.

Armenian artist Robert Elibekyan and poet Razmik Davoyan became the
winners among the seven authors nominated for the Art and Literature
nomination.

TWO PRIZES FOR ARMENIAN ACTORS: YEREVAN: Two out of four prizes of the
“Vidlunya” International Theater Festival on monoplays held in Kiev
on April 21-26 were given to Armenian actors Haik Zorikian and Aram
Hovhannisian, reported Noyan-Tapan agency on May 11. Hakob Ghazanchian,
Director of the “Armmono” international festival, told that Aram
Hovhannisian, an actor of the Paronian’s State Musical Comedy Theater,
was awarded with a prize for the “Rosinant” monoplay in the nomination
“The Best Genre Synthesis”, and Haik Zorikian, an actor of the Theater
of Pantomime, was awarded for the play entitled “Take Care of Each
Other, People” in the nomianation “The Best Actor Debut”. According
to Hakob Ghazanchian, actors of 15 countries participated in the
festival with 18 plays. After the Kiev festival the Armenian actors
received new invitations from Minsk, Moscow and Riga.

DAVID MALIAN’S 100 th ANNIVERSARY: The May 10 jubilee arrangement
organized at the Theatre Worker’s Union of Armenia was dedicated
to the 100th anniversary of People’s Artist of Soviet Union David
Malian. Since 1924 the actor worked in the National Academic
Theatre after G.Sundukian, successfully presented about 150
characters. D.Malian also stood at the source of Armenian cinema,
he played roles in “Pepo,” “Zangezur,” “David Bek,” “Anahit” and
other films. The memories about the creative way he passed and about
his partners were presented by David Malian in the book entitled
“Persons, Meetings.”

According to Yervand Ghazanchian, Chairman of the Theatre Workers’
Union of Armenia, D.Malian was one of the most outstanding figures
of the Armenian theatre and cinema. “David Malian was a legend for
my generation,” Tigran Torosian, RA NA Deputy Chairman, said. In his
estimation, the roles played by D.Malian have great importance, which
remain unforgettable in the history of the Armenian cinema and theatre.

SOUNDS OF JIVAN GASPARYAN’S DUDUK IN ISTANBUL: Armenian duduk player
Jivan Gaspsryan held a concert in the Yeni Meleq (New Angel) concert
hall, in Istanbul on May 12, accompanied by 3 Turkish musicians in a
hall that seats 2000 people. Before the concert in Turkey, Gasparyan
was in Moscow, where he was the only foreign musician, at a concert
devoted to President Putin’s inauguration.

FILM ABOUT PARAJANOV IN CANNES MOVIE FESTIVAL: Russian film,
documentary work by Georgy Parajanov “I died in the childhood” has
been included in the offical program of Cannes Movie Festival out of
contest, reported Arminfo on May 12.

The 1-hour-long film is dedicated to film director Sergey Parajanov
and was shot by his nephew. The film is presented in the form of
the hero’s confession. The film “I died in the childhood” gives a
unique opportunity to spectators to see the only scene shot by Sergey
Parajanov from the unfinished film “Confession,” the funerals of the
neighboring girl.

ON YEREVAN STAGES .

May 16 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall Lyric and Music
Evening devoted to 80 anniversary of Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak. Ticket
cost 1000-3000 AMD.

May 15, 16 National Opera and Ballet Theatre Rebirth of the opera
“Anush”, Anush – Anahit Mkhitaryan, Nune Badalyan .. , Sosi –
Alexander Tamazov, Saro – Ruben Nurijanyan. artistic director Gegham
Grigoryan. Ticket cost 2000-6000 AMD.

May 15, 16 Stanislavsky Russian Theatre, British Council presented
Russel Maliphant Dance Company. Ticket cost 2000-5000

May 19, 20 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall , Concert of
the new pop star Mister X. Ticket cost 1500-6000.