The “Mezzo” club hosted American-based pianist Armen Aharonian’s solo concert. The musician’s name is known to us only from professional circles. During the Soviet times, the artist headed the “Urartu” ensemble, whose soloist was Georgi Minasyan, and at the same time, he was the pianist of the ensemble. In an interview with “Aravot”, Aharonian said that he is in the US since 1980, he recalled the frequent tours of the “Urartu” ensemble throughout the Soviet territory, he noted that it was the ensemble which could gather 4000 spectators in the cycling ground of Yerevan. To our observation that in the 80s, certainly not like in today’s “abundance”, the artists were emigrated from Armenia, specifically to the United States to earn a good living and make a career, the pianist replied, “Certainly, I was no exception who left for the US to earn a good living …”
To the remark whether the dollars poured like rain from the very first day, the musician responded, “In my case, just 3-4 days later, truly dollars began falling from the sky. And in the first two days, without feeling uncomfortable, I was working on a solid waste. By lucky chance, in those days, I got acquainted with the Tbilisi-Armenian violinist Raffi Hagopian whose name was already famous in the US and we began performing first in the Russian-Jewish and then in various clubs. I must also note that I was almost at the same time working in three clubs and was making a fortune. If it is interesting, I can also mention the following that two months later I bought a house, and of course, a grand piano.” The pianist also informed that less than a year, he is acquainted with Charles Aznavour and played the famous duet of Sayat-Nova’s song “Yis Qu Ghimetn Chim Gidi” (I do not know your true value), with the chansonnier and his daughter Seda. Shortly after, Aznavour’s album with his and Georges Diran Garvarentz’s instrumentals was published.
We asked which of the renowned Armenian and foreign singers he has cooperated performed for them. The musician said that it will take a long time to list the names of compatriots and overseas celebrities, and then mentioned one-two names: from Dzakh Harut up to Marten Yorgantz, Araks Varderesyan, as well as some of nowadays Armenian singers. As for the concerts, during the same evening concert, he was on the stage with Sting, Elton John and other stars, including famous singer Googoosh (Iranian singer and actress of Azeri origin). To the puzzlement as to how he could afford himself to cooperate with Googoosh after the world celebrities, our interlocutor first reminded that the mother of the Iranian singer is Armenian, and then said, “There is nothing amazing, the West is also very diverse in cultural, and Googoosh fills the concert halls.” In his words, his professional education in Yerevan was the reason that once made 5000 Turkish to applaud on foot at the end of his concert of Khachaturian’s music in the “Congress Hall” in Istanbul.
Samvel DANIELYAN
“Aravot” daily
