Armenia’s opera house preparing for active year

2014 will be a very active period for the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, its chief conductor has said, unveiling a plan of a new performance in the coming year.

Though the opera's 80th anniversary was this year, the staff has been busy most of the time preparing necessry technical equipment and training for the performance, Karen Durgaryan told reporters on Friday.

“I don’t think spending sums to arrange a party and saying later that we celebrated the 80th anniversary is acceptable. Jubilee concerts fit within the logic of socialist realism; a performance should be the event to mark a jubilee. That’s my subjective understanding. When you watch the new performance, you will see it was very important,” he said.

The opera house is preparing to stage the opera Carmen next year, for which it is now preparing 3-4 actors. The best performers will be selected for the premiere.

“I think the performance will be ready in spring. We will be active next year, playing three to four performances each week. We will try to restore the tradition of children’s operas to educate children,” Durgaryan promised.