On April 28, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia hosted a meeting with great Armenian artist Tigran Mansurian that was part of the “Meetings with Diaspora Armenian artists having achieved success in Armenia” Program. Among the participants were Diaspora Armenian artists, as well as students and employees of the Ministry.

Greeting maestro Tigran Mansurian, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan stated the following: “Today we have gathered to pay homage to our composer, who has become a living legend. With his music, Tigran Mansurian has presented and presents the Armenian to the world. Mansurian is an unmatched Armenian cultural figure whose music is inseparably linked to Komitas Vardapet. In 1947, Mansurian’s father, Yeghia Mansurian and his family left Beirut for Armenia and settled in the city of Artik. Undergoing the hardships that were characteristic of the era in Soviet Armenia, eight-year-old Tigran matured, graduated from the conservatory and composed songs in many genres, starting from symphony music and ending with films for movies. When we interact with Mansurian, our souls are in peace, and we feel love and warmth around us.”

The Minister touched upon the first concert that the All-Armenian Orchestra gave at Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet on 24 April during which Tigran Mansurian’s new song “Poem of Victory” was performed for the first time.

“The concert gathered the best 90 Armenian musicians, of which 70 were from nearly 20 countries around the world. They performed the maestro’s song that was composed especially for the All-Armenian Orchestra and dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the rebirth of the Armenian people,” the Minister of Diaspora emphasized and added the following: “The Armenian audience also received the performance of the song “Poem of Victory” with great excitement, and I am glad that the maestro will share his memories and impressions with us today. Mansurian is loved by everyone and everywhere, and all Armenians associate the music of Mansurian with the Homeland.”

Minister Hranush Hakobyan awarded Tigran Mansurian with the Gold Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for making contributions to the strengthening of relations between Armenia and different communities of the Diaspora, for achieving success in providing young Armenians with an education and Armenian upbringing, for helping increase the reputation of Armenia and fostering the country’s recognition with his professional activities, for carrying out national activities and providing community service, as well as for making great contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity.

Expressing gratitude for the cordial reception and the award, maestro Tigran Mansurian said the following: “Dear Mrs. Hakobyan, this meeting is a gift for me, and this gift and kind words come from your heart. Thank you. You have always been cordial and attentive towards me and my work.”

The maestro shared episodes of his musical career and emphasized that the fields of Shirak Province had initially been the homeland of his soul and that the bright colors and dialect of Shirak Province had inspired him. “For me, music is the language of the Armenian people, that is, Armenian. I love Armenian poetry, and my poet and mentor is Yeghishe Charents,” Tigran Mansurian emphasized.

Afterwards, the song “Poem of Victory” was played for the participants of the meeting, after which the students and Diaspora Armenian artists had the opportunity to express their heartfelt words to the maestro and ask him their questions of concern.