As we had reported earlier, the Armenian and Turkish musicians, on December 14 in Yerevan and on December 22 in Istanbul, will perform an exclusive concert entitled “Melody for Harmony”, which will include the “Beautified Project” rock band, Turkish folk music performers and Istanbul-Armenia singer Sibil. Aravot.am asked the singer about her repertoire. “I will sing “Bari Aragil (Good Stork)” and “Cilicia”, the “Letter” and “Only You” based on the words of Shiraz. Yesterday, I have the first rehearsal, everything sounded pretty well. There is a unique harmony between the musicians and me,” said the singer.
She said that culture has no boundaries and the current political situation between the two countries does not impede the establishment of cultural relations. “Many Turkish musicians are supporting me, inviting to concerts and contribute to the sounding of the Armenian song.” Our interlocutor said that she has no problems sounding Armenian-language songs in Turkey. “One of Turkish singer, when performing the “Mountain Girl” song, sings the beginning in Armenian and continues in Turkish, in other words, Armenian language sounds. I have a desire to present my culture in Armenian, that’s why I sing only in Armenian. I am having concerts in the Armenian environment, I also receive invitations from Turkish musicians.”
Sibil informed that recently she attended a concert by the invitation of a Turkish musician Osman Yurdal Tokcan. “Among the musicians arrived from Israel and Greece, I was the only singer who performed a song in Armenian. At that time, I was planning to travel to the US, and Yurdal Tokcan changed the day of the concert so that I will be able to attend. There was 198 Turkish audience and some of them Armenians.” Note that, Osman Yurdal Tokcan will again take part in a concert on December 14.
We also asked Sibil what the Turkish public thinks of the Armenian music. “The people are pretty close to the Armenian music. When I released my first album, it was incredible but I heard a lot of positive opinions from the Turkish audience. They were saying, “thanks to you, we listened to an Armenian song, because of you, we want to learn Armenian.” The Armenian culture is important for the Turkish authorities, Armenian musicians performed still from the Ottoman period,” said Sibil. Note that, in the near future, Osman Yurdal Tokcan will release a disc of songs by the Armenian musicians of Constantinople.
Luisa SUKIASYAN
