Arax Mansourian and her Chinese, Greek and Australian students will give concerts dedicated to composer Tigran Mansurian’s 75^th birthday. The first of the concerts will be held at Cafesjian Center for the Arts today with performances of songs in Armenian by tenor Dziang Hongshin, coloratura soprano Georgia Coccoris and soprano Rian Saunders. This is what Arax Mansourian said during a press conference, reports Panorama.am.

“I wanted my students to perform on the occasion of my brother’s birthday. They are award recipients, and I feel very responsible,” Mansourian said.

Mansourian mentioned that her students accepted the offer with great joy and even purchased their tickets to Armenia by themselves.

Mansourian said the concert in Yerevan will include a series of songs and songs by Komitas. On 18 September, the singers will perform European arias and Mansurian’s songs in Stepanakert.

“I won’t be performing at the concert in Yerevan. The program is in Armenian, and I’ll be singing from my seat. How can I sing after all that? I’ll sing one song in Stepanakert,” Mansourian said.

Mansourian’s students were also attending the press conference and mentioned that the important thing for them was the fact that they were with Arax Mansourian and that they were learning the Armenian language and becoming familiar with Armenian culture.

“Being able to interpret Armenian songs is a great gift for us,” they mentioned, adding that performing the songs of Komitas and Mansurian isn’t just demonstrative, but runs in their blood.

Dziang Hongshin mentioned that Armenian is a difficult language.

“I get goose bumps every time I perform Mansurian’s songs,” Hongshin said.

They have already toured Yerevan and will be traveling to Garni and Geghard. Rian really wanted to go to Lake Sevan, but there isn’t enough time. The students are crazy for Armenian food.

Currently, Arax Mansourian teaches foreigners Armenian songs at the Australian Music Institute in Sydney.

“During the exams, my students must definitely perform a song by Komitas,” she said.

All proceeds from the concert will go to the treatment of children with diseases. Mansourian said they have also given a concert in Sydney, and the Jacos family, as well as Paula and Vazrik Hovhannisian have donated money to help children with disease in Armenia.