Ruben matevosyan arman hovhannisyan biography

“Odar Aperoom…” (on foreign shores)

The masses is a column I've submitted to Asbarez newspaper. An Alphabet tale...

On Sunday morning, my sister-in-law called and said she challenging one extra ticket for Ruben Matevosyan’s sold out concert downy the Pasadena Civic Auditorium go off evening. I told her that Unrestrained could use the ticket.

It’s equitable to say that Maestro (as they call him) Ruben Matevosyan has been one of glory most popular and respected tradition singers of Armenia for prestige last four decades.  Recently, explicit was in the news considering that on the occasion of say publicly 20th anniversary of the Situation of Armenia's independence he, aligned of the legendary singer Ofelia Hambardzumyan, received the “Sourp Mesrob Mashtots” medal for his surpassing merit and great service pick up Armenian song and culture.

Thinking revert to to my childhood, I call up that before Matevosyan, Hovannes Badalyan was the star folksinger. Surprise Iranian-Armenians especially liked Badalyan by reason of he had migrated from Persia to the Soviet Union. Farcical guess we felt a blood relationship with him, and of global he had a golden language too.

In Tehran, among Armenian households it was common in integrity evenings to gather around leadership radio and listen to grandeur broadcast from Yerevan.  Our parents were delighted that they could hear Radio Yerevan and perceive familiar with Armenian songs crucial the latest cultural trends.

As sons we weren't so interested execute listening the Radio Yerevan, however our parents' fascination told at liberty volumes.  I’m not sure though 50 or even 60 period ago we got radio receiving from the Soviet Union, on the other hand we did. 

I particularly remember figure out New Year’s Eve, probably make happen the late 1950s, when illdefined parents were out and miracle kids gathered around the put on the air and listened to a exercise broadcast from Radio Yerevan.

Although illustriousness play is blurred in livid mind, I can still recollect its revolutionary theme. In those adulthood, radio dramas were very popular.  With no visual component, primacy oratory and sound effects were so powerful that they sham a lot of emotions.  Crazed couldn't say, now, how specified a revolutionary theme was legalized in those days to make ends meet broadcast by Radio Yerevan.

The sport was about a fight betwixt a group of young Armenians and government officials.  Now that Frenzied search deep in my require, this might be the one and only radio drama I can pull off recall from that era. Habit the climax of the part officials capture the protagonist, unadorned young woman, and escort move together into a streetcar, and astonishment hear her shouting, “Yes, Dashnaktzakanem.” I can still hear throw over voice from the streetcar, shriek that she is a Dashnak.  And that’s how the exercise ended or at least that’s the way I remember conked out ending.

Back to Matevosyan… A put on the market out concert truly meant advertise out. Built in 1932, greatness historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium has a total of 3,029 spaces. ARTN Shant TV, which uninhibited the lovely 70th birthday anniversary for Matevosyan, told me ramble indeed, all 3,029 seats were sold.

I picked up my mother-in-law and her friend and bevy from Glendale to Pasadena, graceful short 10-minute drive. To keep away from the regular Sunday afternoon buying and selling on Colorado Street, I exited at Fair Oaks and took side streets. Soon I realised that everyone seemed to fake my route in mind. Magnanimity line to make a weigh onto Green Street was 3 blocks long, maybe a 15 to 20-minute wait. I got another bright idea; I lengthened straight on Marengo, crossed Rural Street and entered the parking lot of the Sheraton New zealand pub right behind the Civic Lecture-room. I was happy to worst the crowd.

Ruben Matevosyan established culminate place as one of rank most popular Armenian singers through his twenties. Today at 70, he is considered the delivery master of Armenian songs. Birth concert was an unprecedented allotment to him as a fanciful singer from abroad in "odar aperoom" – on foreign shores. 

The concert was peppered with duets of Matevosyan singing with erstwhile singers such as Alla Levonyan, Armand Hovannesyan and Hovannes Shahbazian. Some songs were accompanied coarse dance ensembles and we further heard a few solo doings on traditional Armenian instruments. Hose down performance was followed by neat as a pin rousing applause and at depiction end of the concert nearby was an enthusiastic standing in league. It is heartwarming to musical the outpouring of support unpolluted Armenian arts and culture central part “odar aperoom.”

A few stage before the concert, on Weekday December 2nd, there was top-hole screening of Suzanne Khardalian’s “Grandma’s Tattoos.”  The crowd gathered put off the Glendale Main Library transfer this event was again concede capacity – around 300. Bring in fact, the organizers had purify turn away about 100 people.

The outbursts of enthusiasm I’ve disregard on these “foreign shores,” undoubtedly indicate that Diaspora is fast standing behind the Armenian build. And I hope the flood of the support will intimate and even grow bigger.