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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC PLAYS TO PACKED HOUSE IN ISTANBUL
The AGBU-funded Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), along with the
State Academic Choir of Armenia, performed together in a sold-out
performance at Istanbul’s Lutfi Kirdar concert hall on October
15, 2004. The performance was the first of its kind in Turkey’s
cultural capital and was at the invitation by the Sahakian School
Alumni Association and sponsored by the district of Sisli, Istanbul,
an area with a large Armenian community.
Over 2000 people attended the event, including local politicians such
as the mayor and deputy mayor of Sisli, Mustafa Sarigul and Vasgen
Parn respectively, the Mayor of Pagirgiukh, Jacqueline Qeoseh, the
Russian Ambassador to Turkey, the Armenian representative to the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation, Arsen Avagian, as well as representatives
of various cultural and community organizations, and reporters from
all major Armenian and Turkish media outlets.
Under the direction of Istanbul-born Maestro Hovhannes Tchekidjian,
the APO performed some of the better-known works of Rossini, Orff,
Handel, Mozart and Verdi, along with a number of Armenian pieces
that moved the capacity crowd. During the Armenian program, soprano
Karine Avetissian sang highlights from the “Anoush” opera and soprano
Zemfira Daniyelian performed the “Sayat Nova” cantata, while during the
second half tenor Rafael Melkonyan performed a solo from Chukhajian’s
“Leblebiji” operetta.
The concert ended with a prolonged standing ovation and shouts of
“Bravo, Chekdji.” In response to the applause the APO performed
the recently anointed anthem of the Armenian capital of Yerevan,
“Erebouni-Yerevan”, followed by the popular, “Ara Ho”.
Formed over 75 years ago, APO has been mainly subsidized by the AGBU
since 1992 in recognition of the importance of the performing arts
in Armenia. Annual grants are allocated for weekly concerts, new
instruments, administration, salary supplements, international guest
artists and special festivals. APO has successfully toured Austria,
France, Greece, England, Lebanon, Iran, Russia and the UAE and has
produced over a dozen CD recordings. For more information on APO
please visit or
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress