CONCERTS OF HILLIARD BRITISH ENSEMBLE TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN AND VANADZOR

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Concerts of the Hilliard British ensemble
will take place on July 2-3 in Yerevan and in Vanadzor within the
framework of the Prospects of the 21st 8th international music festival
initiated by the Armenian Music Center.

Composer Stepan Rostomian, the Chairman of the festival, said that the
Hilliard ensemble is one of the apologists of Armenian sacred music in
the world. The ensemble’s repertoire includes medieval sacred works
and those dated to the Renaissance. Hilliard cooperates with the RA
People’s Artist, composer Tigran Mansurian and, as S. Rostomian said,
is one of the best performers of the Armenian composer’s works.

In the words of countertenor David James, their repertoire includes
sacred songs of different nations, but they attach much importance
to especially Armenian sacred music. "We perform those church psalms
(sharakans) in Armenian, which receives a warm welcome by Diasporan
Armenians. Armenians have wonderful church psalms, which should go
beyond Armenia’s boundaries and be spread all over the world. For us,
the homeland of sacred music is Armenia," D. James said.

By the way, S. Rostomian said that at the Summit of the European
Festival Association held on June 9 in Brussels, Yerevan received the
status of a city living cultural life, as well as became a member of
that association.

It was also mentioned that henceforth the festival will be held not
on the initiative of individuals and with the financial assistance of
different sponsors, but with the sponsorship of the RA Prime Minister.
From: Baghdasarian