GOHAR GASPARIAN’S FUNERAL TO TAKE PLACE ON MAY 19 AT KOMITAS PARK PANTHEON
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2007
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. As it has been already reported, on the
occasion of Gohar Gasparian’s death, a governmental commission with
its presidency has been created by RA Prime Minister’s decision. The
report provided to Noyan Tapan from the Commission reads:
"The Armenian national culture suffered an irreparable loss: great
Armenian singer Gohar Gasparian passed away: the USSR People’s Artist,
Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of USSR and ASSR state prizes,
professor of Komitas State Conservatory for many years with her voice
gifted by the God and with her unique singing skills gave the highest
influence and pleasure of art to Armenian and foriegn music-lovers.
Gohar Gasparian was born in 1924, in the capital of Egypt, Cairo, in
the family of modest bank official Mikayel Khachatrian. The parents of
the future singer spared no efforts to give education to their talented
daughter. She taught at master of vocal art Eliz Feldman and Vincenzo
Carro, who had left the Fascist Italy and permanently settled in
Cairo. Her marvellous lyric-coloratura soprano was strengthened by deep
bases of technique of Italian bel canto singing. The 20-year-old Gohar
was already a fully-fladged singer in Cairo, but she had not finally
found her niche in the art of singing yet. And only on her native land,
in Armenia, the name Gohar Gasparian became a phenomenon of vocal
performing art. Armenian art-lovers perceived her this way during
her first performance, which took place in June, 1949 at the hall of
Armenian Philharmony. The admiration of musical world doubled by the
debute of 1949 opera part. It was Delibes Lakme. The triumphal march of
Gohar Gasparian’s art started on the stage of A. Spendiarian National
Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. With her unique interpretation
the lovers of opera art saw and loved Anush, Olympia, Shushan, Karine,
Rozina, Juliette, Margarit, Norma and many other roles.
They also heard many new chamber creations still unknown to them.
For many years Gohar Gasparian was the herald of Armenian art in
the world.
Thousands of foreigners discovered for themselves Armenia and Armenian
people thanks to her art.
She never seaked for glory and fame, but glory, other titles and
laurels themselves chased the great singer as a deserved evaluation
to her work.
Let’s bow our heads before her memory and bade farewell to one of the
beautiful and marvellous phenomena of our people, whose name and art
is eternally registered in the pages of history of native culture."
The governmental commission also reports that G. Gasparian’s civil
funeral rites will take place on May 18, at 18:00, in Baghramian 50 B,
second entrance, apt 20.
The farewell to the great singer will take place on May 19, at 12-14:00
at A. Spendiarian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. The
burial ceremony will take place on May 15 at Komitas Park Pantheon.