While hosting Diasporan Armenian pianist Mikael Ayrapetyan and his wife, pianist Yulia in the editorial office of Hayern Aysor electronic newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, we talked about the purpose of Mikael’s visit, which is a sacred duty for the devoted musician to identify the great Armenian musicians and composers who have made contributions to the world of music and have been unfairly forgotten.  Mikael, who was born in Armenia, studied in Moscow and shares his professional skills with young musicians of China, will be giving a concert through the Secrets of Armenia musical project and has dedicated this concert to renowned Armenian composer and People’s Artist of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Haro Stepanyan.

“Of course, I have come to satisfy my longing for my birthplace, my Homeland and enjoy the sun in Armenia, but I am mainly in Armenia to give a concert at Cafesjian Center for the Arts on August 3. I am dedicating the concert to renowned Armenian composer Haro Stepanyan. Unfortunately, few people talk about that talented composer and don’t reflect much on his works. This makes me sad, and I want people to remember all talented musicians and often remember them and reflect on their works. Haro Stepanyan was born in Gandzak, the native land of 12^th century renowned historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi, fable writers Vardan Aygektsy and Mkhitar Gosh. At the age of 17, Stepanyan participated in WWI. In 1919, he studied at Tbilisi State Conservatory for a year and met Romanos Melikyan. In 1923, he studied at the Gnessin Music School of Moscow and was a student of Mikhayil Gnessin. In 1926-30, he was a student of Shcherbakov at Leningrad Conservatory. In 1927-29, he participated in the folk music gathering campaign that Kristapor Kushkaryan organized in different regions of Armenia and wrote more than 350 Armenian and foreign songs that were later adapted. In his memoirs, Haro Stepanyan wrote that that campaign helped him better recognize the beauty of Armenia and he confessed that he had written most of his songs under the influence of his impressions of those days, particularly the song “Hey, Aragats!” This great composer created five operas, three symphonies, several romantic songs, chamber and instrumental music and a concerto for the piano. Haro Stepanyan also helped enrich and enhance Armenian classical music. From 1930 to 1934, he was the chair of the creative class of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. In 1947, he chaired the Union of Composers of Armenia. In 1938, he was elected Deputy of the Supreme Council of Armenia. Gnessin said the following as he expressed his unique opinion of Stepanyan: “Stepanyan’s delicate taste, poetry and stylistic glimpses deserve to be admired.”

We don’t have the right to forget or rarely remember the musician who has made such great contributions. Through the “Secrets of Armenia” musical project, I have decided to reflect on such world-class musicians. I am always supported by founder of Armenian rock music, director of Ayas Group Artur Metinyan, who is my stepfather and good friend. Spiritual values have always been highly appreciated by my family of musicians and art lovers (my grandfather, Hrant Dmitryuk played the piano, my mother, Katya Dmitryuk also played, my grandmother is Merited Artist of the Republic of Armenia, actress of Stanislavsky Theater of Yerevan Irina Marchenko). My family taught me to love music, appreciate and learn from our greats and never forget all the people with great talent and who have made their contributions to Armenian music throughout history. We have given many concerts through this musical project. In June 2015, we organized a classical music concert dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide at the Large Hall of Moscow State Conservatory, performing the works of Komitas, Armen Tigranyan, Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanyan, Eduard Mirzoyan and Robert Amirkhanyan. We advocate Armenian classical music and the composers whose works are rarely performed. We organize world premieres, record and release albums of Armenian academic music at Armenian Music Records. In October 2012, we organized the concert featuring performances of the chamber music of pianist Eduard Baghdasaryan, who was a very unique musician of the 20^th century.

This will be ongoing. This is a job that is pleasant and binding, but I do it with pleasure. After the August 3 concert dedicated to great composer Haro Stepanyan, we have a lot of things to do. Let us live, create and be the devotees and advocates of our jobs, our nation, our Homeland, our culture and our arts. This is the mission, and I am ready to invest my professional skills and potential to accomplish that mission. I thank all those who support us. I also thank the Armenian people, Armenia and all art lovers in general.”

….And we are grateful to you, patriotic Armenian! We thank you for your exceptional efforts and dedication.

Karine Avagyan