ED. TOPCHIAN: PROPAGANDA OF CLASSIC MUSIC IS NECESSITY AND MUST BE FULFILLED AT STATE LEVEL
Noyan Tapan
May 10 2007
YEREVAN, MAY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no proper attention towards the
classic music in Armenia, the most part of the society prefers now pop
music what is a result of bad propaganda of the classic art. Conductor
Eduard Topchian, the artistic head of the Philharmonic Orchestra of
Armenia expressed such a viewpoint at the May 9 press conference.
The conductor is sure that today’s talented musicians presenting
the classic art are specialists got education still during the
Soviet period of time who keep the former traditions and are famous
with their singing art on the international scene as well. In the
conductor’s words, propaganda of the classic music must start first
of all from the family, by sowing in the child love towards that art
with the help of education at the youthful age, and propaganda among
the society must be carried out through the television as well.
At the same time, Ed. Topchian expressed satisfaction on the occasion
of broadcasts dedicated to the classic music having fine taste by a
series of TV channels.
"The created situation will be settled only at the state level. I
prepare to address with that issue to RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian for we are able to keep the values we have owing to its
attention and assistance," Ed. Topchian stated. He mentioned that
the 120-person orchestra headed by him today has great successes in
many European countries and has wonderful concerts on famous scenes
of the world. "Whereas, our task today is the attention expected
towards orchestras, choirs wonderfully performing in our country and
formation of a high-quality singing art," he mentioned.
Ed. Topchian also touched upon the low salaries of musicians,
mentioning that only 25 thousand drams are monthly allocated from
the state budget to one musician of the philharmonic orchestra. The
Armenian General Benevolent Union, in the person of Louise Simone
Manoogian, has sponsored the orchestra already for 16 years. In his
opinion, the musician’s minimum salary must be money equivalent to
about 600 U.S. dollars for he is able to care his everyday expenses.
Speaking about his attitude towards the coming parliamentary elections
and supporting this or that political force, Ed. Topchian mentioned
that "he is not interested in policy as his mission is to be engaged
in music." The young conductor does not accept cultural figures’
"being engaged in the policy" either. "Everybody must be engaged in
his affair: people creating culture must not present themselves at
propaganda campaigns and become partisans how much beneficial and
profitable it is for their work," he emphasized.
The musician also added that the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia
will soon have two big concerts in Austria because of which he will
not be able to participate in the May 12 NA elections.