Armenia’s Triumph at the European Weightlifting Championships: The Story of Dedication and Strength

Emil Lazarian
Feb 22 2024
Salman Khan

When the Armenian weightlifting team touched down at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport, a wave of pride and joy swept through the air. Fresh from their remarkable performance at the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, the athletes were not just carrying their luggage, but also an impressive haul of medals that testified to their strength, dedication, and the spirit of a nation. Leading the medal count with a total of 11 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze medals, Armenia had once again proven its mettle in the realm of weightlifting on the European stage.

Among the heroes welcomed home, Hripsime Khurshudyan, a 36-year-old mother of two, stood out for her extraordinary achievement. Competing in the women's 87kg category, Khurshudyan lifted a total of 227kg to secure the bronze medal. Her performance was not just a testament to her physical strength but also her unyielding spirit. Despite facing serious injuries and the looming thought of retirement, Khurshudyan's dedication to her sport and her country remained unwavering. "This medal is more than a piece of metal; it's the fulfillment of a promise I made to raise the Armenian flag," Khurshudyan reflected, her satisfaction with her performance shining through her words.

The European Championships were a rollercoaster of emotions for Khurshudyan. After her final attempt, she kissed the barbell, a gesture of farewell to the sport she loved, and removed her sneakers – a symbol in weightlifting that typically signifies retirement. Yet, in a twist of fate, she later discovered she had won a bronze medal. This unexpected victory has given Khurshudyan a new perspective, leaving her undecided about ending her illustrious career. "I'm focusing on my recovery now," she mentioned, hinting at her intention to compete in the upcoming World Championships in December.

The championships also highlighted the emergence of new talents and the consistent brilliance of veteran athletes. Samvel Gasparyan, with his silver medal in the men's 102kg category, and Varazdat Lalayan's gold in the super-heavyweights, underscored Armenia's depth in weightlifting talent. Gasparyan's achievement was particularly noteworthy, adding a silver to his collection of medals from previous years and signifying his role as a stalwart in the sport. Lalayan's victory was equally compelling, marking him as a strong contender for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

As the Armenian team reflects on their achievements and looks towards future challenges, their success at the European Championships serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It's a reminder of the power of dedication, the importance of resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of athletes who, against all odds, continue to strive for excellence. While the journey of Hripsime Khurshudyan and her teammates is far from over, their story of triumph in Sofia will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of weightlifters in Armenia and beyond.

https://bnnbreaking.com/sports/armenias-triumph-at-the-european-weightlifting-championships-the-story-of-dedication-and-strength

French defence minister visits Armenia amid Azerbaijan tensions

Andranik Taslakhchian
MSN
Feb 22 2024
AFP

France's Sebastien Lecornu is due to travel to Armenia on the first trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation, as tensions rise with Yerevan's historic rival Azerbaijan.

Lecornu's trip comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday.

Pashinyan last week warned that Azerbaijan is preparing for a "full-scale war" with Armenia after decades of tensions over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"France and Armenia have a historical relationship of friendship, but the defence relations have not reached the level of the intensity of the bilateral relations," Lecornu's office said.

The minister, who will be accompanied by members of parliament and defence industry representatives, is due to arrive in Yerevan on Thursday evening.

The visit comes amid a growing rift between the Soviet-era master Moscow and Yerevan, which has grown angry with the Kremlin over its perceived inaction on Armenia's long-running confrontation with Azerbaijan.

In October 2023, France announced the sale of defence equipment to Armenia, provoking anger from Azerbaijan. 

The deal was announced weeks after Baku seized the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists.

Lecornu said at the time that Armenia would buy three Ground Master 200 (GM200) radar systems from French defence group Thales.

Armenia has also signed a contract to buy night-vision goggles from the French group Safran, and the French army is also set to train Armenian troops this year.

– 'Policy of militarisation' - 

"Armenia is in a position to defend its territory and population, and defence cooperation with France is strictly in line with the objective of helping it to defend itself," the defence ministry said.

France opened a defence mission in Yerevan in January 2023.

Baku, which is backed militarily by Turkey, has slammed what it called France's policy of "militarisation" in the South Caucasus.

France, home to a large Armenian diaspora, has played a mediating role in the decades-long conflict over control of Karabakh, whose recapture by Azerbaijan led to the exodus of some 100,000 Armenians.

On Wednesday, a stateless Armenian poet who died fighting the Nazi occupation of France during World War II became the first non-French Resistance fighter to enter the Pantheon mausoleum for national heroes.

Yerevan fears that Azerbaijan, which has been emboldened by its capture of the disputed territory, might now seek to target southern Armenia.

Last week both sides accused each other of opening fire on their volatile border in a skirmish that Armenia said left four of its soldiers dead.

After the new spate of tensions Armenia and Azerbaijan's leaders held direct talks on the sidelines of a security gathering in Munich and agreed to push on with peace negotiations.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev then travelled to Turkey where he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly hit out at France for criticising Baku's Karabakh offensive last year, and for plans by Paris officials to help arm neighbouring Armenia.

In January, an Azerbaijan parliamentary commission called for the expulsion of French companies from the oil-rich country.

Azerbaijan authorities arrested a Frenchman on espionage charges in December.

mdr-as/ah/spb

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/french-defence-minister-visits-armenia-amid-azerbaijan-tensions/ar-BB1iHqvA 

Europeans for Artsakh movement calls for banning Azerbaijan from 2024 Olympics

Emil Lazarian

 15:03,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Europeans for Artsakh movement has urged the International Olympic Committee to take a stand against Azerbaijan's participation in the 2024 Olympic Games.

The movement has sent a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning Azerbaijan's participation in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and has called on the IOC to undertake concrete measures. The letter was also sent to the French National Olympic Committee, the French Olympic Games Organising Committee, the City of Paris, the President of the French Republic and the Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Europeans for Artsakh said in a press release.

Referring to the ongoing conflict and the ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Europeans for Artsakh movement urged the IOC to ban Azerbaijan from being represented as a state at the forthcoming Olympic Games and to allow Azerbaijani athletes to compete only under a neutral banner. “This call comes in the wake of Azerbaijan's genocidal policy and ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, which led to the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral lands and homeland in September 2023,” the movement said.

Only the French National Olympic Committee replied to the letter, according to the press release, acknowledging the situation and indicating that its position was in line with that of the French government and its diplomatic efforts, while stating: "we cannot remain insensitive to such a catastrophe."

“Europeans for Artsakh expects a clear position from the International Olympic Committee, since a failure to respond would undermine the integrity of the Olympic Games and pave the way for warmongering states.The movement will continue to put pressure for the sake of integrity and justice in this regard.”

Europeans for Artsakh is a pan-European movement bringing together the representative bodies of the 15 Armenian communities in Europe. It was the initiator of an appeal addressed to the leaders of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as to the leaders of the Member States of the Council of Europe, in support of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. This appeal was co-signed by more than 500 European associations.

The mission of this movement is to mobilise citizens and take the necessary action to ensure that the fundamental rights of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) are exercised and guaranteed.

Border delimitation with Azerbaijan must be conducted exclusively with topographic maps – Deputy PM

Emma Jilavian

 16:11,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be done exclusively through topographic maps, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan has said.

He said that only the topographic “professional maps” should be used in the process. Furthermore, Grigoryan said that the delimitation process doesn’t simply involve working with maps. “First of all, the delimitation process is about identifying the legal basis on which any given map was drawn. Moreover, not every agency is authorized, or was authorized during the Soviet Union to draw or print a map. All these nuances are highly important and must be addressed during the work,” Grigoryan said.

He said that there’s no agreement yet on the timeframe of the next meeting on border delimitation.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 22-02-24

Suren Karakhanian

 17:29,

YEREVAN, 22 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 22 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 404.36 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.32 drams to 438.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.35 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.41 drams to 512.65 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 29.25 drams to 26348.71 drams. Silver price up by 0.21 drams to 299.99 drams.

Toivo Klaar, Jeyhun Bayramov discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process

Toneyan Mark

 18:00,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar has met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

According to the Azerbaijani media, the sides discussed the current state of Azerbaijan-European Union relations, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the prospects for the draft peace agreement.

Asbarez: Ferrahian, Cabayan, and Pilavjian Schools Gala Blossoms with Success

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A scene from the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian, Cabayan, and Pilavjian Schools Gala held on Feb. 3


Nearly 300 community members gathered at Republic Venue in Sherman Oaks on February 3 for the annual gala of the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian, Cabayan, and Pilavjian Schools, celebrating the theme “Where Young Minds Blossom.” The evening, emceed by Gerard Kassabian, was a resounding success, raising an impressive $300,000 to support the schools’ continued growth and excellence.

The event opened with prayers and blessings from Archpriest Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. This was followed by a stirring performance of the Armenian and American national anthems along with the Ferrahian school song by students Areni Ekmekjian, Maya Kazandjian, and Krystal Kojaoghlanian setting the stage for a night of celebration and community spirit.

School board chairman Vahe Benlian welcomed guests and highlighted the schools’ recent accomplishments. These include continued enrollment growth of more than 40 percent within the past two years from Preschool to High School, exciting expansion plans of North Hills Campus Cabayan Elementary and Pilavjian Preschool by the way of purchasing adjacent 1.7 acre property for $3.5 million and plans to start building the long awaited new elementary classrooms, administration, cafeteria, lab and gymnasium. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award to Zaven Keuroghlian and Van Der Megerdichian of Zartonk Media News Service, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the global Armenian community.

Guests generously pledged their support throughout the evening, culminating in a remarkable $300,000 raised. This included a significant $100,000 endowment established by the Cabayan family, longtime benefactors of Cabayan Elementary. To further engage the community in this exciting journey, a new “Brick Project” fundraiser was unveiled. This initiative allows individuals to purchase personalized commemorative bricks that will be laid on the footsteps of the new campus expansion in Encino, creating a lasting legacy of support.

“The success of this gala is a testament to the incredible spirit of our school community,” remarked Sossi Shanlian, principal of Ferrahian. “The funds raised will allow us to continue providing our students with the highest quality education and nurture their intellectual, emotional, and cultural growth.”

Beyond the fundraising, the evening provided a platform for community connection and celebration. Attendees enjoyed delicious food, lively entertainment, and the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, parents, and supporters.

The Holy Martyrs Ferrahian, Cabayan, and Pilavjian Schools’ gala was a resounding success, solidifying the schools’ commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering a vibrant community.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/22/2024

Bedik Zaminian 
                                        Thursday, 

Major Differences Remain On Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal


Armenia- Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanian speaks to jounalists, July 28, 
2023.


Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to disagree on some key terms of a bilateral 
peace treaty discussed by them, a senior Armenian official said on Thursday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanian did not disclose them in comments to 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan spoke last month of a “significant regression” 
in Azerbaijan’s position on the treaty. In particular, he indicated that Baku is 
reluctant to explicitly recognize Armenia’s borders through such an accord.

Senior Azerbaijani officials have said in recent months that the two sides 
should sign the treaty before agreeing on the delimitation of the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Armenian analysts and opposition figures suggested 
that Baku wants to leave the door open for territorial claims to Armenia.

The Armenian government accused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of making 
such claims after he renewed in early January his demands for Armenia to 
withdraw from “eight Azerbaijani villages” and open an extraterritorial corridor 
to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. Aliyev also rejected Yerevan’s insistence 
on using the most recent Soviet military maps to delimit the long border between 
the two South Caucasus countries.

Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, said on Wednesday 
that the “regression” remained in the latest Azerbaijani proposals received by 
Yerevan this month. It applies to key provisions of the would-be treaty, he said 
without elaborating.

Grigorian insisted at the same time that the two sides could narrow their 
differences during Mirzoyan’s upcoming talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister 
Jeyhun Bayramov.

Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian reached an agreement on the 
talks when they met in Munich last Saturday. No date has been set for them yet.




Azeri Man Wanted By Armenia Allowed To Leave Russia

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani fitness coach Kamil Zeinali wanted by Armenia is 
greeted at Baku airport, .,


Russia allowed an Azerbaijani man accused by Armenia of beheading a 
Nagorno-Karabakh civilian during the 2020 war to return to Azerbaijan on 
Thursday one day after briefly detaining him at a Moscow airport.

The man, Kamil Zeynalli, was apprehended at the Domodedovo international airport 
on an Armenian arrest warrant and freed a few hours later. A Russian court was 
reportedly due to start on Thursday hearings on his possible extradition to 
Armenia.

Russian authorities did not immediately explain why Zeynalli was allowed to fly 
back to Baku. Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, was reported 
to say that his mission held “intensive negotiations” with the authorities and 
managed to convince them that the accusations brought against him are baseless.

A spokesman for the Armenian Interior Ministry, Narek Sargsian, said that 
shortly after Zeynalli’s detention it was contacted by Moscow and confirmed that 
the Azerbaijani national known as a fitness coach is wanted for the war crime 
allegedly committed by him. Sargsian again gave no details of the accusation 
which stems from the beheading of an elderly resident of Karabakh’s southern 
Hadrut district captured by Azerbaijani forces during the six-week war.

Sargsian also told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that his ministry has put together 
a “package of documents” required for the suspect’s potential extradition and 
will send them to Russian law-enforcement authorities. Ara Ghazarian, an 
Armenian expert on international law, dismissed the move as overdue and useless.

“If that person is not in Russia, Russia can no longer initiate an extradition 
process,” argued Ghazarian. “It is Azerbaijan that must initiate it, but 
Azerbaijan, of course, will not do that.”

He said Moscow’s decision to let the suspect return home is politically 
motivated and reflects mounting tensions in Russian-Armenian relations.




Lawmaker Contradicts Armenian Official’s Claim On Russian Troops

        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenian - Russian border guards stationed in Syunik province are inspected by 
Russian Ambassador Sergei Kopyrkin, May 24, 2022.


Russian troops are not deployed in or around a border village where four 
Armenian soldiers were killed last week, a pro-government lawmaker said on 
Thursday, contradicting a senior Armenian official’s claim about Russia’s 
responsibility for the Azerbaijani ceasefire violation.

The remote village, Nerkin Hand, is located in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik 
province bordering Azerbaijan and Iran. It is half-surrounded by Azerbaijani 
army posts.

Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, blamed the 
Russians for the deadly incident there as he defended on Wednesday the European 
Union’s monitoring mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijan regularly criticized by 
Moscow.

“The EU monitoring mission has no access [to the border village] and only Russia 
does,” he told journalists. “Russia is present there and it failed to prevent 
the incident.”

Narek Ghahramanian, a Syunik-based parliamentarian representing Armenia’s ruling 
Civil Contract party, insisted, however, that “there is no Russian presence in 
the village or in the positions” around it held by Armenian forces. He said 
Russian troops only have a checkpoint on a road leading to Nerkin Hand.

“Honestly, they are not present in our positions and could not have prevented or 
failed to prevent [the cross-border Azerbaijani fire,]” Ghahramanian told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Armenia - A convoy of European Union monitors is seen in Syunik province, 
October 20, 2022.

The head of the EU mission, Markus Ritter, said on Wednesday that the Russian 
side has not allowed his monitors to visit Nerkin Hand and patrol that section 
of the border. Grigorian echoed the claim, saying that the Armenian authorities 
“will try to address the problem.”

Ghahramanian said in this regard that while he has heard complaints about the 
Russian checkpoint he personally has never encountered any problems during his 
visits to Nerkin Hand.

“I have gone there, guests from Yerevan have gone there, and villagers enter and 
leave [the village.] They [the Russians] don’t check anyone,” he said.

At the same time, the lawmaker questioned the effectiveness of Russian military 
presence in Syunik, saying that Russian soldiers and border guards have not used 
force to prevent or stop Azerbaijani truce violations.

“What’s the point of their staying there if [the Azerbaijanis] are going to 
continue to shoot?” said the lawmaker.

Russia deployed troops to Syunik during and shortly after the 2020 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh to help the Armenian military defend the strategic region 
against possible Azerbaijani attacks. Russian-Armenian relations have 
significantly deteriorated since then, with Yerevan accusing Moscow of not 
honoring its security commitments to Armenia.




France Reportedly Ships More Military Equipment To Armenia

        • Astghik Bedevian

France - French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu (right) and his Armenian 
counterpart Suren Papikian sign an agreement in Paris, October 23, 2023.


France’s Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu flew to Yerevan on Thursday as 
Armenia reportedly received French military hardware acquired by it last October.

A deal signed by the Armenian Defense Ministry and the French defense group 
Thales at the time called for the sale of three sophisticated radar systems to 
the South Caucasus nation. Lecornu and his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikian 
attended the signing ceremony in Paris.

The GM200 radars can simultaneously detect and track multiple warplanes, drones 
and even rockets within a 250-kilometer radius, allowing air-defense units to 
hit such targets. France supplied two such systems to Ukraine a year ago.

France’s Le Figaro daily and AFP news agency reported that the three radars as 
well as French night-vision equipment will be shipped to Armenia on Thursday. 
The Armenian Defense Ministry declined to comment on those reports.

Lecornu stressed on Wednesday the “purely defensive” character of these and 
other French arms supplies. Armenia is facing “major security challenges,” he 
told the French broadcaster RTL in a clear reference to the risk of an 
Azerbaijani attack on the country.

Lecornu headed to Armenia the day after French President Emmanuel Macron and 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian met in Paris ahead of an official 
ceremony to inter Missak Manouchian, an ethnic Armenian hero of the French 
Resistance to Nazi occupation, at the national Pantheon.

“We will continue our defense cooperation with Armenia,” Macron said at the 
start of the meeting. He urged Azerbaijan to explicitly recognize Armenia’s 
borders and enable Nagorno-Karabakh’s displaced population to return to its 
homeland “freely and rapidly.”

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned Macron’s statement, saying that it 
could only create “new tensions” in the region.

UAE - A French ACMAT Bastion armoured personnel carrier at a defense exhibition 
in Abu Dhabi, February 25, 2015.

Lecornu and Papikian are scheduled to meet on Friday. Andranik Kocharian, the 
chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense and security, did not 
rule out that more French-Armenian agreements could be signed as a result of 
their talks.

“Armenia seeks to acquire weapons of very high quality from multiple sources,” 
Kocharian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

The two ministers signed in October a “letter of intent” on the future delivery 
of French short-range surface-to-air missiles to Armenia. It emerged afterwards 
that France will also supply a total of 50 armored personnel carriers. The first 
batch of 24 Bastion vehicles apparently bound for Armenia was spotted in the 
Georgian port of Poti in December.

Kocharian also stressed the importance of France’s pledge to train Armenian 
military personnel. According to Le Figaro and AFP, the French military will 
hold three “mountain combat training courses” for them this year.

Russia has long been Armenia’s principal supplier of weapons and ammunition. But 
with Russian-Armenian relations worsening and Russia embroiled in the 
large-scale war with Ukraine, Yerevan is increasingly looking for other arms 
suppliers. Since September 2022, it has also signed a number of defense 
contracts with India reportedly worth at least $400 million.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Music: Zartir, an Exquisite Album that Celebrates the Best of Armenian Culture

Toneyan Mark
World Music Center
Feb 20 2024
 Douglas Sanders February 19, 2024  
Gurdjieff Ensemble – Zartir (ECM Records, 2023)

The Gurdjieff Ensemble’s latest offering is Zartir. The album’s title is derived from the works of Paghtasar Dpir, a distinguished Armenian poet and musician of the 17th century.

This comprehensive set, curated by the Gurdjieff Ensemble, traverses a wide range of musical expressions, encompassing new interpretations of G.I. Gurdjieff’s compositions, sacred hymns, and prayers, alongside pivotal works from prominent figures spanning three centuries. Among these luminaries are the renowned ashughs (bards) Sayat Nova and Jivani, whose artistic legacies continue to resonate profoundly in Armenia and beyond.

Notably, Sayat Nova, immortalized in Sergei Parajanov’s seminal film “The Color of Pomegranates,” emerged as a seminal figure in 18th-century ashug tradition. His work, characterized by its secular nature, brims with romanticism and philosophical depth, exerting a lasting influence across the Caucasus region and elsewhere. Elevated to the highly-regarded position of Royal Musician and Poet by King Heracles II of Georgia, Sayat Nova’s multifaceted compositions transcended linguistic and cultural barriers, earning him widespread acclaim.

Central to the Gurdjieff Ensemble’s artistic ethos is the profound spiritual legacy of G.I. Gurdjieff, whose teachings illuminate the inherent fragmentation of human consciousness and advocate for a transformative journey towards heightened awareness. Rooted in his extensive travels across Armenia, the Middle East, and various corners of Asia and Africa, Gurdjieff’s musical repertoire reflects a diverse array of folk traditions and sacred practices, offering a window into the multifaceted world of human experience.

The ensemble’s meticulous arrangements, helmed by Levon Eskenian, breathe new life into these timeless compositions, rendered with exquisite authenticity and skillfully performed on traditional instruments. Evoking a sense of enigmatic allure, their music oscillates between rhythmic vigor and poignant introspection, weaving a captivating narrative that resonates on a profound emotional level.

In addition to their scheduled performances, the prospect of presenting Parajanov’s cinematic masterpiece alongside the ensemble’s music present a compelling opportunity. Furthermore, collaboration with the Parajanov museum to curate exhibitions showcasing the visionary artist’s works promises to enhance the immersive experience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interplay between music, film, and visual arts within the context of Armenian cultural heritage.

Renowned globally, the Gurdjieff Ensemble includes eminent musicians from Armenia, proficient in the mastery of Armenian and Middle Eastern traditional instruments. Founded under the stewardship of Levon Eskenian, the ensemble embarked on a mission to interpret the piano compositions of G.I. Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann with utmost ethnographic fidelity. Over time, their repertoire has evolved expansively, encompassing a diverse array of musical traditions. This includes the timeless melodies of Komitas, evocative strains from the Middle East, as well as venerable selections from ancient and medieval Armenian folk and spiritual music. Additionally, the ensemble explores the rich tradition of troubadour songs from the Caucasus, compositions curated by Bela Bartok, and embraces contemporary works by avant-garde composers.

The ensemble’s first albums, Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff and Komitas, released under ECM Records, garnered widespread acclaim, earning accolades such as the prestigious Edison Award in the Netherlands. Their artistic endeavors have taken them on an extensive touring journey, captivating audiences in nearly 150 cities across 26 countries spanning Europe, Australia, Russia, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Gurdjieff Ensemble members: Levon Eskenian, arranger, artistic director; Emmanuel Hovhannisyan on duduk, zurna; Avag Margaryan on blul, zurna; Armen Ayvazyan on kamancha; Aram Nikoghosyan on oud; Meri Vardanyan on kanun; Vladimir Papikyan on santur, vocals; Davit Avagyan on tar, saz; Mesrop Khalatyan on dap, dhol; Norayr Gapoyan on duduk; and Eduard Harutyunyan on tmbouk, cymbals, bell.

Buy Zartir.