By the initiative of the Embassy of Poland in Armenia, on 21 May an event entitled “Chopin and Komitas under One Roof” was held at the Komitas Museum Institute. The event took place within the framework of Europe Day celebrations in Armenia, as well as on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Independence of Poland. Within the event a classical concert performed by the well-known pianist and Honored Artist of Armenia Hayk Melikyan took place. Prior to the concert, a seminar dedicated to Komitas and Chopin was presented by the Head of the Research Department of the Komitas Museum Institute, Tatevik Shakhkulyan, drawing parallels between the masterpieces of these two artists.
The program of the concert evening included the compositions of the founder of Armenian national school of music, composer Komitas’ Dances, Songs for Piano, as well as the Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era Frederic Chopin’s Waltz, Mazurka, Polonaise. The recital was enriched by Hayk Melikyan with Sonata “Dedication to Komitas” by the Armenian contemporary composer Harutiun Dellalian.
The event commenced with the opening speech of the Komitas Museum-Institute Director Nikolay Kostandyan, who, above all, expressed his hope for the continuity of the cooperation between the Embassy of Poland and the Komitas Museum-Institute with the aim to present the cultural heritage of both countries.
During the evening the guests gained “a remarkable opportunity to enjoy music of two genius composers that no longer belong to Poland or Armenia. They do represent universal, supranational values thanks to their immense contribution to world culture and therefore they are part of all of us,”- underlined Ambassador of Poland to Armenia H.E. Paweł Cieplak.
The Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador H.E. Piotr Świtalski, addressed the audience emphasizing that “both composers constitute an important contribution to the European cultural identity. Both are precious gems of our culture”. The Ambassador was intrigued to see “how the genius of stormy melancholy is meeting the genius of sorrowful meditation”.
The Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan honored the evening with his presence. Among the guests the representatives of diplomatic missions, international organizations, Armenian government, NGOs, members of Polish community were present at the event.
The event was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia and was financed by the European Union and the Embassy of Poland.
Press-release
