Moscow hosts Babajanyan anniversary concerts

A concert series dedicated to Arno Babajanyan, a prominent Soviet-Armenian composer (1921-1983), opened in Moscow on Saturday in celebration of the musician’s 95th birth anniversary, the Armenian Embassy to Russia reports.

In an opening speech at the event, entitled “I Live as Long as I Remember”, Ambassador Oleg Yesayan praised Babajanyan’s musical heritage in Armenia and Russia, and accross the entire post-Soviet space, noting that his unique melody never left any ear indifferent.  “Arno Babajanyan is the great personality who is equally appreciated and loved in both his fatherland and beyond its borders. Reflecting the Armenian spirit and breath, his music has been and remains universal,” he said, noting that the solemn opening symbolically coincided with the Armenian First Republic’s anniversary.

According to the ambassador, Babajanyan’s exceptional talent and dedication to music helped unite different generations and peoples around universal values, particularly, the idea of peaceful co-existence (which he said is actual especially nowadays).

The first concert was organized by the Arno Babajanyan International Memorial Fund in collaboration with the Union of Armenians of Russia. The sponsor of the event is the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakicevan. Pop soloists and bands from Armenia and Russia performed the musician’s songs for the audience.

The concerts will continue throughout the year in Russia and in other countries, including Armenia. A gala concert in the Moscow Kremlyovskaya Hall will conclude the jubilee events.