We are summing up the 4th Aram Khachaturian International Festival with great satisfaction and good achievements. We had outstanding performances, a program, many renowned artists visited Armenia, Sergey Smbatyan, artistic director and principal conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia told a press conference on Thursday.

He noted that within the scope of the festival the artists perform works that are important for the cultural life of Armenia – be that chamber music, symphony, or program for children.
“Filled concert halls remain of vital importance along with the new music and the works by new composers to be performed,” Smbatyan said.

The conductor informed that the closing ceremony of the festival is due on December 10 with famous violist Hayk Kazazyan to play on the occasion of the event.

Smbatyan next reminded about the 20-th anniversary of world-renown painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky, suggesting the next festival to be closely linked to the works of the painter.
“It would be hard, yet we should present the greatest achievements of the art and values we have created,” Smbatyan explained.

He next emphasized the need for holding master classes within the frames of the festival, saying the festival has adopted a policy to encourage interest toward the classical music.

Smbatyan also welcomed the idea of creating an all-Armenian symphonic orchestra, saying he has been one of the advocates, though suggested to choose a ‘fair format’ for it.

“If the all-Armenian symphonic orchestra comprises only musician that have left Armenia during difficult years, the orchestra will not serve its mission. It should comprise talented Armenian musicians performing in different corners of the world. We should create the value to demonstrate our togetherness to the world. Music unites people of different generations from different continents irrespective of their ideological differences,” noted Smbatyan.

Source Panorama.am