Istanbul-Armenian renowned singer Sibil is again in Armenia thanks to the sports. She was invited to sing at the opening ceremony of the 6th Pan-Armenian Summer Games.
As promised, Sibil gave her first interview with “Aravot.”
– What does Sibil mean? Is this your real name or a stage name?
– This is my real name, my surname is Pektorosoglu. Sibil is a mythical name meaning a non-deity. But my parents did not give me this name because of it. This is the pseudonym of a Constantinople-Armenian poetess Zabel Asadour. She published her works under the pseudonym Sibil.
– You are introduced as one of the best singers in Turkey. How do you treat it?
– To be one of the best is not bad. But there is one missaying here. It would be right to mention my also being a Constantinople-born Armenian. We call ourselves Constantinople-born Armenians meaning the old and Armenian name of Istanbul. I would ask this gap to be added.
– When did you visit Armenia first?
– In 2001. On the Day of Independence, on September 21, I visited with my mother as a tourist. At the time, I was still singing in the church chorus of St. Vardanants. On this Day, together with my mom, we attended the lavish celebration and the concert at Vazgen Sargsyan stadium. Sitting in the audience, I dreamed of singing on this stage too one day. I have even prayed for it.
– And did your dream come true?
– Yes. 10 years later, in 2011. My dream was fulfilled at the opening ceremony of the 5th Pan-Armenian Games. And I sang in the same stadium. It was wonderful.
– How did it happen that you were invited?
– One of my dreams was to record an album of Armenian songs. The album found a great reaction in Turkey and this reaction reached Armenia too. In one of my interviews, I had mentioned that one of my biggest dreams is to perform the song “To See Ani and die” on the ruins of Ani. The president WCPAG Ishkhan Zakaryan learned about this and found it appropriate to invite me to Armenia and perform at the opening ceremony of the 5th Pan-Armenian Games with a song. This was the reason that I perform before the Armenian audience for the first time and people recognized me.
– It was your first performance in Armenia. And what happened after it?
– I participated in other programs in Armenia. Together with Andre, we had 8 duets in the program “We and We” by H1 TV channel, which also brought me a recognition here. I often visit Armenia, perform and participate in Awards, but unfortunately, there was no private concert.
– Recently, your another dream became true, you visited Ani.
– It was incredible. The members of the World Games Committee had planned to visit Kars, Van, Diyarbakir, Mush, Ani…, Mr. Ishkhan Zakaryan called me on the phone and said that I should also be part of it and sing my so much loved song at the ruins of Ani. It was an indescribable happiness. My emotions were so high. I had the feeling in Ani as though I was singing in front of millions of spectators. The air, soil and the breath in Ani are different. There was an excitement, there is love, there was sadness, but there was also light and the sunny …
– Sports connected you with you motherland. Do you go in for sports?
– Unfortunately, I am not so related to sports. For a short time, I was taking tennis classes, I have played basketball and volleyball, but not professionally. I like walking.
– Do you have Turkish songs in your repertoire?
– No. Only in one of the concerts held in Istanbul, where my Turkish friends were also among the audience, I sang one song in Turkish on the piano.
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How do they treat you when you’re singing Armenian songs?
– Well. And they are asking me to sing a Turkish song with my voice. Generally, wherever I performed, both Armenians, Turks and other nations say me, “You are our Sibil.” This is pleasant to my ear and I am encouraged.
Ashot HAKOBYAN
