Mikael Ayrapetyan: “The Homeland is my respiration and my oxygen”

Many Armenians living far away from the homeland visit Armenia in the summer to do business or enjoy eating the apricots and mulberries in Armenia. As for those who were born in Armenia, they come to satisfy their longing as well. Our compatriot, pianist and recipient of international awards Mikael Ayrapetyan and his wife, pianist Yulia are also in Armenia with those purposes. During my interview with them, I found out that Mikael is currently living in China and sharing his professional skills with young Chinese musicians.

Hayern Aysor: Mikael, tell us about your career.

Mikael Ayrapetyan: I was born in Yerevan and lived in Armenia until I was 9 years old. Until the third grade, I attended the Sayat-Nova Music School. Later, my family and I moved to Moscow where I graduated from the local music school and continued my studies at the music school adjunct to Moscow Conservatory. I was a student of People’s Artist of Russia, Professor Mikhail Voskresenski. I finished my studies for a PhD. Generally speaking, I have been studying music for 18-19 years. I am a pianist and, it’s obvious that I have performed as a soloist on stages around the world. I have given concerts at various concert halls across Moscow and in several cities of the Russian Federation. I have also given concerts in Spain, Israel and Poland. Currently, I live and work in China. In Moscow I teach at the Institute of Cultural Arts. Through programs for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, one of my female Armenian colleagues and I were sent to China to train Chinese students to obtain double certificates. The Chinese students study in their homeland for three years, after which they travel to Moscow and receive two certificates of higher education. This is my advantage of living and working in China for almost a year.

Hayern Aysor: Mikael, I know that you also carry out large-scale activities as a musician and actively advocate Armenian music in China. Could you tell us about that?

M. A.: I am a creator. I am also quite active in essence. I have already established ties and collaborate with a newly forming Armenian community of only 800 members, including young Armenians from Yerevan. My friend, our compatriot Mher Sahakyan is a wonderful person who aspires to help develop and disseminate Armenian music and culture in China. This year, we organized an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Chinese city of Nanjing with Armenians from different Chinese cities, as well as Chinese and foreigners. Entrance was free. A Chinese genocide also took place in Nanjing, and the Chinese of Nanjing know very well what the genocide of 1.5-2 million Armenians is. In Nanjing there is a museum devoted to the Chinese genocide, and a part of that museum is devoted to the Armenian Genocide. This is exactly what unites the two nations. That Armenian Genocide commemoration event included an exhibit of Sevada Grigoryan’s paintings and my solo concert during which I performed the works of Komitas, Spendiaryan, Babajanyan an Amirkhanyan.

Hayern Aysor: The Chinese are considered one of the world’s ancient nations. What do they think of the Armenians?

M. A.: To tell you the truth, most of them don’t even differentiate between the nations of the former USSR. They think everyone is Russian, but when they get more acquainted, they realize that the Armenians are a different nation that as a different culture, different traditions and a different civilization. When they get better acquainted, they show more respect towards the Armenians, based on the fact that both China and Armenia are the founders and bearers of ancient cultures. The Chinese astounded me with their great love for, as well as interest in Armenian music. I was amazed at how they understood and quickly adapted the sounds and modulations of Armenian folk and national music. One day, 15 Chinese students approached me and asked me for the musical notes of an Armenian song so that they could learn them and perform the music. They only know Aram Khachaturian out of all Armenian composers. They don’t know the other renowned composers, and so they listen to me very attentively and realize that the music comes from pure sources.

Hayern Aysor: Mikael, how do you feel without Armenia, outside of Armenia and in Armenia?

M. A.: Armenia is very deep down in my heart and soul, and I can’t work or play without touching Armenian soil. I have come to Armenia every summer and have mainly worked here. Armenia gives me the energy and strength that helps me stay active and be at the height of my career and performance all year long. Four years ago, that tradition was interrupted since I was actively involved in the Secrets of Armenia Project. At the time, I had to record songs and had a hard time visiting Armenia. Now, after four years, I am in the Homeland once again. I would love to introduce the works that have been presented abroad and received the best critiques in Armenian music. I have already met with President of the Union of Composers and Musicologists Aram Satyan and have told him about my work. I have also met with Head of the Copyright Protection Committee Susanna Nersisyan.

Hayern Aysor: In the beginning of our interview, you said you have also come to introduce your wife to Armenia and visit the Ministry of Diaspora.

M. A.: Yes, you are right. My wife is my former student, Yulia. She must definitely become familiar with her husband’s Homeland, culture, language and traditions. My children will obviously be Armenians, and so my wife needs to know Armenia and the Armenians well. Another purpose of my visit was to establish strong ties with the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia and work more closely with Armenia. The representatives of the Ministry of Diaspora promised to organize my concerts in Yerevan and possibly in Gyumri and Artsakh in the second half of August. On August 25, I leave for Moscow because I will be performing at another concert commemorating the Armenian Genocide. I am actually the concert’s organizer.

Hayern Aysor: Let’s return to China. Are you fluent in Chinese?

M. A.: No, I don’t speak or understand Chinese at the moment because it is a very difficult language. It has four intonations. It is very hard for a Russian-speaking person to learn Chinese, especially since the Chinese don’t speak or understand Russian or English. They speak broken English. I communicate with them through a translator. I will probably learn Chinese with the help of my translator next year. I have much more capable and talented students in Moscow, but the Chinese amaze me with their unique ability to adapt and understand very quickly. When they listen to Armenian music, their eyes start shining.

Hayern Aysor: Mikael, from whom did you inherit your musical skills?

M. A.: My mother is of Russian descent, my father is Armenian, and our roots trace back to Karabakh. My forefather from my mother’s side was the head of the personal bodyguards of King Nikolay II. My forefather was sent here and set up a school that was similar to the Suvorov School. My whole family is in the arts. My grandmother is People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia Irina Marchenko and works at Stanislavsky Russian Theater. My mother, Katya Dmitryuk has also been at that theater for 18 years, after which she left for Moscow with us and left theater behind. My grandfather, Hrant Dmitryuk has played the piano, and my mother has also played the piano, but my mother’s second husband, composer, founder of Armenian rock music and head of Ayas band Artur Setinyan had the greatest impact on my musical career. He guided me. Arts and music have also reigned in my family and in my soul.

Hayern Aysor: Who is your most favorite musician and the musician that is close to your heart?

M. A.: This is the toughest question for a musician. There are two geniuses that are close to my heart, and they are Beethoven and Komitas. Their music penetrates into my inner world and helps me when I perform and achieve great heights in my career. For me, they are the supreme patriarchs of world music. Komitas’s song “Kele Tsoler” is always in my soul, and I always sing it.

Hayern Aysor: What is the most memorable concert that you have organized?

M. A.: It is the 3.5-hour Armenian Genocide commemoration concert that I organized in the large hall of Moscow Conservatory. The audience simply didn’t want to leave the hall. There were performances by violinists, pianists, a choir and even soloists. There were many numbers. The concert was also broadcast on Kultura TV channel.

Hayern Aysor: What does the Homeland mean to you?

M. A.: If a person forgets his roots and becomes detached from them, he ceases to live with spiritual values and becomes an ordinary, average person. That is why it is very important to live with the Homeland. The Homeland is my respiration and my oxygen.

Karine Avagyan

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