Naregatsi Art Institute

“Heritage of Others”

Jewish Music & Poetry

From September 9 to 18, Naregatsi Art Institute, in collaboration with Open Society Institute Assistance foundation’s branch in Armenia, conducted the project “Music & Poetry by Jewish Authors” within “Heritage of Others”. The aim of this project is to introduce the public to the culture of minorities in Armenia (Georgians, Russians, Greeks, and Jews).

On this occasion, concerts were held at Naregatsi Art Institute, Yerevan Komitas Chamber Music Hall, Aram Khachatryan Museum Hall (September 9, 16 & 18), Fine Arts Academy Hall in Gyumri (September 10), Arts Palace Hall in Vanadzor (September 11) and Music College Hall in Kapan (September 13).

During these events the works of different Jewish composers and writers were performed (Mendelssohn, Weiner, Bruch, Bloch, Bronner, Pasternak, Chagall & Mandelstam).

Narrators Anna Mikayelyan, Tatevik Danielyan (poetry), Naregatsi Chamber Music Society members (artistic director Aram Talalyan), “Linos” String Quartet, pianists Arthur Avanesov, Anahit Nersissyan, Nayira Israyelyan, Miqayel Balyan and others participated in this exceptional event.

The opening concert was held at Naregatsi Art Institute on September 9 with the presence of representatives of the Jewish Congregation in Armenia, reporters, artists and other representatives of national minorities in Armenia.

During interviews, composers like Digran Mansouryan, Willy Weiner, Levon Chaoushian, Mikhail Kokzhayev, the head of the Jewish congregation in Armenia Rima Varjapetyan, the head of the Russian congregation in Kapan Galina Aghakhanyan, musicologists, writers and artists expressed their appreciation, impressions and thoughts.

This project was highly appreciated mostly in the regions where some compositions were performed for the first time for the Armenian public.

“Heritage of others” is essential for the fact that people with different nationalities living in Armenia have the chance to communicate through the language of culture, help create a respectful view towards people from different nationalities and cultures residing in Armenia, in addition to the fact that the project included the participation of young artists whose promotion is one of the main objectives of Naregatsi Art Institute.