Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

SUCCESS IS FOUND IN NORMA’S SIMPLICITY
By Alan Conter

The Globe and Mail, Canada
Sept 20 2005

Vincenzo Bellini: Norma
L’Opera de Montreal
Bernard Labadie, conductor
At Place des Arts in Montreal

L’Opera de Montreal set the bar awfully high in launching its
26th season with Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma. While Bellini’s 1831
masterpiece sits pretty solidly in the pantheon of great opera, only
a few productions really live up to the extraordinary demands of the
work. The company last staged it 23 years ago.

The challenge of Norma is not that it’s especially intricate; in fact,
it’s the reverse. Bellini took a bold step in composing a score where
the singers are left very much on their own, supported by a small
orchestra that plays beautiful yet relatively simple melodies.

Norma succeeds or fails on the range and colour of the voices.

Bellini asks a lot of his singers as musicians and actors. Felice
Romani’s libretto is intensely tragic where love, passion, duty and
deception are interwoven.

On Saturday night, l’Opera de Montreal pulled it off. Anyone who’s
ever seen a production of Norma in a post-Maria Callas world knows
that the audience is on pins and needles until the Druid High
Priestess finishes Casta Diva early in Act One. Will she bring the
right simmering intensity and have the power to climb the heights of
this aria with ease? If she can do it, you know the evening will be
all right. If she can’t, well, that’s a tragedy of another order.

As the final chords of Norma’s invocation dissipated in Salle Wilfred
Pelletier at Montreal’s Place des Arts, the audience roared its
approval of Hasmik Papian as Norma.

Papian, an Armenian soprano, is not new to the role. In fact, she has
spent a good part of the last 10 years making it her own throughout
Europe and now, increasingly, on this side of the Atlantic.

Her interpretation of the powerful and tormented spiritual leader
of the oppressed Gauls is full on. She has bold and richly textured
voice, and can act. Act Two can unravel into a series of ill-considered
melodramas with a less capable lead. Norma’s internal struggle over
whether to spare her children infamy and enslavement by murdering
them or sparing their lives and committing them to an uncertain fate
was entirely believable.

American mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich was a fine Adalgisa, the younger
priestess who is seduced by the Roman pro-consul Pollione then
discovers he is the father of Norma’s children. She and Papian sang
wonderfully together.

Another American, Antonio Nagore, was Pollione, the Roman with
severe commitment problems. He is clearly a talented actor with a
solid and broad vocal range. However, on Saturday night, he seemed
to be suffering a bit; a slight hoarseness crept insidiously into
his singing from time to time.

The Polish bass Daniel Borowoski was an imposing Oroveso, the high
priest who ultimately must sacrifice his daughter and her foreign
lover.

Two up-and-coming Canadian singers rounded out the cast. They’re both
members of the company’s Atelier lyrique. Thomas Macleay, who has been
building a career singing early and contemporary music in Europe,
the United States and at home, is now showing up more frequently on
the opera stage. His Flavio, a friend to Pollione, was clean and crisp.

Beverly McArthur’s Clothilde, servant to Norma, fit well with the
remarkable singing of the star sopranos.

As you may have read in yesterday’s Globe and Mail, l’Opera de Montreal
cancelled an upcoming production, Igor Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex,
because the company is experiencing a financial shortfall. It would
be have been a largely homegrown production.

Norma, on the other hand, is largely an import.

The beautiful costumes and sets were by John Conklin for the
Metropolitan Opera in New York. American Steve Pickover worked with
British director John Copley on the stage direction, also for the
Met. Montrealer Luc Prairie lit all of it stunningly. The music
direction was the work of Bernard Labadie.

The orchestra and chorus were also local — the Orchestre metropolitain
will be in the pit for the entire season, given the labour dispute
at l’Orchestre symphonique de Montreal.

Certainly the audience on Saturday night loved the show, and the next
opera, Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’Etoile, will be largely homegrown.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMs ADDRESS US GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION

Armenpress
Sept 19, 2005

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov addressed the 60-th
session of the UN General Assembly on September 18. Armenian minister
first cited a UNDP Human Development report which ranked Armenia at 83,
far ahead of its neighbors. Oskanian said Armenia made the progress
in the face of its disadvantaged geographic location with no crude
oil reserves and no outlet to sea.

“If we had oil money we would spend it on education, social
security and nature protection,” he said, implicating Azerbaijan’s
declared plans to double its military spending next year up to
$600 million. Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Oskanian said
Armenians there have achieved a de facto independence proving to all
that they are able to defend their independence, govern themselves,
create democratic institutions and conduct fair and transparent
elections.

According to RFE/RL, Azerbaijani foreign minister dwelt on Baku’s
official position on how the conflict should be settled, saying Armenia
must first of all pull out its troops from all controlled regions of
Azerbaijan in order to get rid of ‘aggressor’s label’ and contribute
to building of atmosphere of confidence. He then said refugees must
be allowed back to where they had lived before the conflict erupted
and that a police force, composed of Armenians and Azeris, must be
formed in Nagorno-Karabakh to ensure security. He also said Karabakh
Armenians and Azeris in Nakhichevan must be allowed free communication
with their fellows in both countries.

“In this sense the Lachin corridor must be turned into a road of
peace and used in both directions and should be controlled at the
initial stage by international peace keepers,” he said.

THE FIRST SESSION STARTED

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 Sept 05

On September 14 the first meeting in the autumn session of the NKR
National Assembly took place. The meeting was conducted by Speaker
Ashot Ghulian. The parliament decided to place the members of
parliament Garik Grigorian, Ararat Danielian and Romela Dadayan in
charge of the counting commission. During the discussion of the agenda
the parliamentary faction Hayrenik proposed to discuss the election of
chairman of the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly. The speaker
said the question had not been on the agenda because it was not ready
for discussion yet and would probably be presented at the next
meeting. Meeting the request of the faction, the speaker announced
five minutes break. After the break the members of the faction
continued to insist on their point. The proposal was put to vote but
did not receive a sufficient number of votes. The members of
parliament confirmed the agenda of the meeting and the legislative
programme of the session. Then the chairman of the Central Election
Committee Sergey Nasibian presented the message of the NKR Central
Election Committee on the June 19, 2005 election to the National
Assembly of NKR. The minister of economy and finance Spartak Tevossian
presented the annual report on NKR State Budget 2004 and the message
on the budget performance in the first half of 2005, as well as the
annual report on implementation of the 2004-2006 programme of
privatization, which were confirmed by the National Assembly. The
National Assembly also approved the amendments to the NKR law on
lump-sum tax which were enacted. The National Assembly discussed the
package of tax documents including the amendments to the NKR law on
the use of cash machines, the amendments to the law on taxes, the NKR
law on profit tax and the NKR law on lump-sum tax. The vice chief of
the NKR State Tax Agency under the NKR government Levon Voskanian
presented messages and comments on the bills. Taking into
consideration the approval of the standing committee on finance,
budget and economic management, the parliament adopted the amendments
to the law on taxes and enacted the other bills. The vice minister of
social security Emma Gabrielian gave explanations on the amendments to
the NKR law on social security of children devoid of parental
care. The chairman of the standing committee on social security Arpat
Avanessian said the committee approved the amendments. The amendments
were adopted. By the proposal of the government the bills of
amendments to the law on lump-sum tax on petrol and diesel fuel, the
law on lump-sum tax and the law on tax on trade were withdrawn from
the agenda. The National Assembly adopted the bills on consular
service, diplomatic service and international agreements presented by
the foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikian. The last bill discussed by
the parliament on September 14 referred to the legislative regulation
of archiving. The head of the department of archiving under the NKR
government Albert Ghazarian presented the message on the bill. The
standing committee of production and industrial infrastructures
approved the bill and the law was adopted. At the request of the
Ministry of Justice the National Assembly passed the interpretation of
the NKR law on internees, presented by the chairman of the standing
committee on state and legal matters Youri Hayrapetian. Article 1,
section 2 of the law maintains that a person is detained if their
arrest on criminal charges is a means of deterrence. In accordance
with the bylaws of the National Assembly the members of government
answered the questions of the members of parliament. The questions
referred to different spheres of social and economic life of the
country. In the end Vice Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts presented a
statement asserting that election corresponding to the international
standards was held, which brings us closer to democracy. He pointed
out that it is a serious political capital necessary for effective
legislative work for everyone independent of the political camp one
belongs to.

NKR NA.
16-09-2005

Pan Armenian News

EVENTS MARKING UN 60TH ANNIVERSARY START IN YEREVAN

17.09.2005 04:44

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Events marking the UN 60th anniversary start in Armenia
Saturday. As reported by UN Resident Representative and UNDP Coordinator in
Armenia, Ambassador Consuelo Vidal, the festivities to continue till October
24 include a gala concert in the Republic Square in Yerevan with
participation of pop stars, a chess tournament among children of age of
10-12 years for UN Cup with participation of international grand master
Smbat Lputyan, exhibition of works of young photographers and a classic
music concert. Holding of a composition contest among schoolchildren on the
topic of the UN Role in My Life and the World is also planned. Vidal also
reported that a clip of We Are Our History new song was shot with
participation of Armenian pop stars to mark the UN 60th anniversary.

Armenpress

74 FOREIGNERS ASK FOR ASYLUM IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: In the first eight months of this year
34 foreigners were granted permission for temporary asylum in Armenia, one
was granted refugee status, the rest of cases are being considered by a
government-affiliated department for refugees and migrants.
The department said 74 foreigners applied to it in this period asking for
asylum. Fifty-nine of them were Iraqi citizens asking for temporary asylum.
The majority of them were ethnic Armenians, who say they fled their country
because of threats against Christians. People asking for temporary asylum
are given first a three-month period and if they do not leave Armenia after
this period expires they may be given a 12-month asylum period, which is
subject to prolongation.
Last year 199 foreigners asked for asylum in Armenia, 168 were from Iraq.

NOVRUZ MAMEDOV: IF YEREVAN LEAVES THE NEGOTIATIONS, BAKU WILL FIND A
POSSIBILITY TO TALK TO THE ARMENIANS OF NAGORNY KARABAKH
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

Arminfo 16 Sept.05

“If Yerevan leaves the negotiations, Baku will find a possibility to
talk to the Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh.” Head of the Foreign
Relations Department, Azerbaijani Presidential Executive Staff, Novruz
Mamedov told Trend, commenting on the statement by Armenian Foreign
Ministry Press Secretary Hamlet Gasparyan on Armenia’s unshakable
position on the Azerbaijani initiative to the UN “On the situation in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.”

Press Secretary Gasparyan is reported to state earlier that Armenia
will leave the negotiations for Karabakh conflict’s resolution and
Baku will have to negotiate with Stepanakert if Azerbaijan raises any
issue at the UN.

Mamedov thinks the above statement nothing but a diplomatic maneuver
showing the “deep concern of Armenia.” It means that the position of
Azerbaijan has considerably strengthened and that it is supported by
international organizations and separate states, Mamedov says. At the
same time, he thinks “it is not easy to deviate from the negotiations.
The lands are occupied and negotiations are in process. Armenia is in
a deadlock. If Armenia really intends to leave aside of the
negotiations, and if Yerevan officially states that it deviates from
the Karabakh issue, we shall find a possibility to deal with the
Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh,” Mamedov says.

To note, Azerbaijan made a relevant initiative to the UN at the
previous session of UN General Assembly. Then, the issue was postponed
by an agreement under which an OSCE fact-finding group visited the
territories under control of NKR.

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN BAKU AROUSES DISPUTES

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
15 Sept 05

The Armenian church in the centre of Baku is still there. The disputes
about this church are continuing. There are various suggestions in
this reference. Baku-based newspapers publish articles on destroying
the Armenian church. The authors make proposals based on the law on
preservation of historical and cultural monuments passed by Mili
Mejlis of Azerbaijan that buildings and monuments the mere appearance
of which causes pain and sadness should not exist. On the list of
these monuments the Armenian church is in the first place. In Zerkalo
Shirinzadeh writes: `In the 19th century Baku was not an Azerbaijani
city. The number of the natives (the Azerbaijanis), including the
inhabitants of the suburbs was barely 40 per cent. The rest were
Russians, Armenians, Jews, etc.’ Maybe this is the reason why there
was not a single Muslim building in the central luxurious part of the
city (the so called `old centre’) except for the Icheri Shihar
Mosque. But there was the protestant church, Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral and certainly the Armenian church which is a notable
building. Then the author of the article mentions that as a religious
institution the Armenian functioned longer (till 1990) than its
neighbouring buildings but so far its fate is uncertain. In another
issue Zerkalo published the article of the president of the
International Academy of Architecture Shamil Fatullayev: `At the
beginning of the 20th century Baku lacked a project of the town. In
1903 the Armenian community of Baku bought plots of land and started
construction.’ It should be noted that the magnificent buildings in
the centre of Baku, including the houses of opera and ballet, the
former Armenian dramatic theatre, the Armenian school of girls, were
built by Armenian businessmen on their own means. Among these are the
Dramatic Theatre, the Public Museum, the City Hall of Baku, the
Institute of Oil Industry, and another magnificent Armenian church,
the St. Mkrtich Church, which was destroyed and on its place the
conservatoire was built. Doctor Davad Akhundov, architect, author of a
number of works on architecture, suggests using the Armenian church as
a branch of the art museum or as a gallery. He opposes those who
suggest changing it into a mosque. `It is unacceptable. There are
human rules to respect other religions.’ `This will mean desecration,’
he says. In another article the commissioner on preservation of
architectural monuments of Azerbaijan Fahradin Miraliev agrees to
provide the Armenian church to another Christian community or some
religious organization which preaches peace and conformity. `There are
proposals to change the Armenian church into a mosque. I think there
is no need to,’ he says. The parishes of the orthodox churches
S. Michael Archangel and St. Mary are upset that such a beautiful
temple may be given to a sect or by an international bank to use as an
office. In the meantime, tourists visiting Baku take pictures of the
burnt walls of the Armenian church and the litter at its walls.

LEVON MKRTICHIAN KYOKHUNT.
15-09-2005

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIA EXPO 2005: FOREIGN INVESTORS SHOW INTEREST IN ARMENIA

14.09.2005 06:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia EXPO 2005, the fifth universal regional trade and
industrial expo forum started in Yerevan on September 14. The forum includes
a number of events, these being 6 international professional exhibitions, an
Armenian-Russian business meeting `Cooperation 2005′, Business Days of the
U.S. and China, a contest titled `High Quality’ and presentation of film
`Arakel’. Over 180 local and foreign industrial and commercial
organizations, companies and associations are taking part in the expo, the
total area of which has extended as compared to last year. The number of
foreign participants also considerably increased. Commodities from Nagorno
Karabakh, Indonesia were as well exposed. According to Minister of trade and
Economic Development of Armenia Karen Chshmaritian, Armenia EXPO 2005
attracts foreign investments and new partners, promotes international
cooperation and market enlargement.

THE GREEK SUPPORT THE ARMENIANS

A1+
| 14:02:11 | 14-09-2005 | Politics |

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), today, urged House International
Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) to work for committee
approval of Armenian Genocide legislation, set to be considered by
the panel on Thursday, September 15, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

In a September 13th letter to Chairman Hyde, AHI Executive Director
Nick Larigakis, explained that, “Americans of Hellenic origin, and I
believe most Americans, have long held that the U.S. Congress should
be on record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide, commemorating
this crime against all humanity, and applying its lessons to help
prevent future atrocities and genocides.” He went on to note that
“Sadly, due to the powerful pressure brought to bear by the Turkish
lobby’s threats and intimidation, legislation along these lines has
been blocked from passage.”

“We want to thank Nick Larigakis and all our friends at the American
Hellenic Institute for their steadfast support for U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “The assistance of our Greek American allies for this
legislation means a great deal to us – here in Washington, DC, and
in communities around the country.”

ELECTION SYSTEM OF ARMENIA DELIBERATELY IMMERSED INTO CHAOS, THINKS REPRESENTATIVE OF OPPOSITION AT ARMENIAN CEC

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8. ARMINFO. The election system of Armenia was
deliberately immersed into chaos. Representative of the opposition
bloc Justice at the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia Felix
Khachatryan said at a press conference today.

He thinks that in the basis of the election process, in the voters’
list, something unimaginable is happening. In particular, on September
25 elections to the post of the prefect of Yerevan Center community
are expected, however, the voters’ lists of the polling station at
Gevorg Emin No. 182 school in Tigran Mets street lack families of
500 electors, the residents of the dwelling house N.31 in Tigran Mets
street, several flats of some houses in Yervand Kochar and Vardanants
streets were not included in the lists at all.

Moreover, middle names of two electors in voters’ lists were
“Azerbaijan.”

The number of voters at one polling stations differs from that of
another polling station by 10,000 and even 12,000 people, while in
conformity with the law, the difference must not exceed 5,000 people.

These inaccuracies are deliberate and from “above.” Before the
referendum, the number of electors accidentally decreases and than
increases before the elections. Such manipulations are possible only
from “above.”

Khachatryan did not answer the question “what to do” calling
journalists and representative to go to the polling stations and made
sure that he was rights, an than to hold a journalistic investigation.