Armenian-Greek ensemble wins ‘Golden Cup’ in intn’l festival

A Yerevan-based Armenian-Greek ensemble returned with Golden Cup from the international folk festival Parlia annually held in Greece.

Kharitoni participated in the event thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and the federations of Greek communities in Armenia and the CIS countries.

Receiving the ensemble’s director and soloist, Angela Atabekyan, on Monday, Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan conveyed to her his warm congratulations on the top award, wishing the musician more creative success in future career.

Atabekyan said that despite her Armenian surname, she is an ethnic Greek born in the Nagorno-Karabakh village of Mehmana (which has been home to Greeks for over a century).  

“We have been playing Armenian folklore for so many years. Our performances have always stirred up a fuss in a positive sense. And did they at the festival,” she said.

Founded in 1996 by Atabekyan and her four sisters (all graduates of Yerevan State Conservatory), Khariton is now the only professional ensemble in Armenia developing and spreading Greek culture.