Premier ballet dancer and guest choreographer about mass departure of Opera Theatre
It seemed that after the resignation of Rudolf Kharatyan, the chief choreographer of the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre after A. Spendiaryan (about 6 months ago), with the arrival of Vilen Galstyan, the ballet problems would be resolved, especially, when the replacement of choreographers coincided with the formation of a new director and his team.
While it was the opposite, the current season began with the departure of 6 solo-dancers at once. Aharon Petrosyan, Artur Baranov, Hayk Kyurkchyan, Artur Gevorgyan, Eduard Sargsyan and Inga Demetryan left the theater. They have found a job in France, Russia and the United States. Of course, this speaks to the high reputation of our State Choreographic College. About 40 Armenian dancers are in the group of leading theatre and ballet in the West.
Before the departure, “Aravot” met with the aforementioned artists. They justified their departure from Armenia with were poor ballet repertoire of our Theater, with not often organized tours and “raised” salary in summer.
According to our interlocutors, their professional activities does not have a long life and they are not going to spend it in the Theater in Yerevan, almost idle. The stated that 3 years passed after the last ballet premiere – Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” (choreographer R. Kharatyan), and now even though Vilen Galstyan is going to stage Khachatryan’s “The Masquerade”, but they are sure that at least for this season it will not take place. And as to why, our interlocutors brought the example of the extension of staging of Bizet’s “Carmen” opera already for years, due to financial problems. Aharon Petrosyan believes that staging opera or ballet performances do not require astronomical sums.
It is true that, for example, these funds were found for “Aida” and “Spartacus”, but nowadays, the performances are held in half-empty halls. Artur Baranov said that if the state provides about 1 billion dollars a year to the opera theater for salaries and building maintenance, then the Director might save this money to stage “Carmen” not for 40 but at least 20 million drams. Inga Demetryan remembering her College choreography teachers said that they were delightedly telling what performance Norair Mehrabyan staged in 1960’s with the help of college students. It was Sakilari’s “Wash’Em Clean” ballet. And most importantly, this ballet was played on Saturdays and Sundays, and the income was spent on the college problems. Artur Gevorgyan is also sure that the premieres can be carried out without receiving funds from the state, but by proper disposal of the hall with the fees generated from providing the hall for various activities.
Our interlocutor also mentioned the recent tours to Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, when the ballet group had to wait at the Moscow airport for 5 hours, in the event when the leadership of the Theatre left by direct flight. “Aravot” asked some experts to comment on the departure the ballet dancers. Rudolph Kharatyan, who today is in the theater as a guest choreographer, said, “What should we do if staying? Look at how many performances we have per month, and how many hours they work. They had to leave to be saved…” To the remark that it turns out that Vilen Galstyan does nothing, Mr. Kharatyan replied, “If Vilik could do something, he would have implemented his program in the last 40 years, whereas I did so that the ballet artists were working until 5-6 in the evening, I wanted to bring them to the professional level. They did not want, then gathered together and went to complain…”
To the question of what the guest choreographer is going to stage in the Theater, Mr. Kharatyan replied, “Recently, supported by the Ministry of Culture, my program has reached the president and deserved his approval. On the occasion to the 100th anniversary of Genocide, I am going to stage “A pair of Suns” ballet performance. This is an International project, which will include both foreign and local artists by competition.” Premier Dancer Ruben Muradyan informs that there are three factors for the departure of his colleagues: poor repertoire, “increased” salary and the tours. As said by the artists, having one tour in 2-3 years is equivalent to not having it. In the conversation with us, Hasmik Markosyan, the Director of the Dance College, said that she and her teachers’ staff feel sorry for the departure of the artists. “Vilen Galstyan also feels sorry.” Yesterday, all day long, we could not contact the chief choreographer of the Theater, Vilen Galstyan. We are ready to publish his and the Opera Theatre Director’s views, too.
Samvel DANIELYAN
In the photo: Prima Jacqueline Sarkhoshyan who departed from Armenia, and the current Premier Ruben Muradyan.
