PREMIERE OF OPERA "ARSHAK II" TO TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 25

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The premiere of the opera "Arshak
II" will take place at the Alexander Spendiarian National Academic
Theatre of Opera and Ballet on February 25, with famous singers Hasmik
Hatsagortian and Anahit Mkhitarian performing the major parts. The
artistic director of the theatre Gegham Grigorian stated this at the
February 15 press conference. According to him, they now are working on
the last episodes of the performance. The premiere of another opera –
"Davit Bek" will take place on May 8 on the occasion of Shushi
liberation. The artistic director said that funds have been allocated
from the state budget for staging three operas for the first time in
the last seven years. Besides, new wind instruments will be purchased
with state budgetary allocations for the orchestra (the old wind
instruments were purchased as long ago as the 1960s). In April the
theatre will go on tour to the Egiptian cities of Alexandria and Cairo
to show the ballet "Gayane". G. Grigorian noted that with the aim of
arousing interest in opera performances among children and young
people, the theatre requested young composers to write operas for
children.