AZG Armenian Daily #103, 07/06/2005

Anniversary

ARAM KHACHATRIAN: I THINK PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIFE DREAD DEATH

102d Anniversary of Great Composer Celebrated

On June 6, the 102d anniversary of great Armenian composer and conductor
Aram Khachatrian was celebrated. Daily Azg has been informing readers about
arrangements dedicated to great composer’s anniversary. One of such was the
exhibition of pictures by Suzy Madre at the House-Museum of Khachatrian.

English-Armenian public figure Asatur Gyuzelian was the initiator of the
exhibition, and after the display Madre presented the picture collection (25
photos) to the House-Museum. Asatur Gyuzelian was the composer’s friend who
introduced Aram Khachatrian to Suzy Madre during Khachatrian’s last London
visit.

Photographer Madre recalls with pleasure the time when she was shooting the
composer. Suzy Mader who photographs mainly musicians had chance to befriend
with the composer and enjoy relations with him. “His attention and love for
me are my greatest memories”, the photographer says.

Asatur Gyuzelian got acquainted with Aram Khachatrian in 1976 London.
Gyuzelian is going to write down his memories of the friendship with the
maestro. But before that, he shared with London reminiscences.

“Our acquaintance started with Khachatrian shouting at me during a press
conference at Dorchester Hotel upon seeing me smoke. Now, I wonder how could
our relations grow into such closeness after such a cry”, Gyuzelian tells.
The composer had an interesting character, he says. “I have many
recollections about Khachatrian. He had such a feature in his character that
when he loved someone, he loved with all his heart, explicitly and
naturally, even kind of privatized the one he loved but if he did not,
nothing could make him change”.

Gyuzelian says that Aram Khachatrian loved his family with unique love. “He
loved the life so much that he feared death and he told me once, ‘Asatur, I
think people who love life dread death'”, Gyuzelian recalls.

By Gohar Grigorian