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INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARMENIAN JUGGLER DIES IN MOSCOW
MOSCOW, JANUARY 15. ARMINFO. One of the most renowned jugglers of the
Soviet times Harutyun Hakopyan, 86, died in Moscow Friday.
In the early 60s Hakopyan began overshadowing all the other conjurers
using mostly sophisticated accessories rather than their own deft
hands. By the end of his career he was reputed as almost the only
worthy manipulator in the world for the Soviet audience.
"To try to perceive whatever when looking at Hakopyan's hands is like
to try to perceive Tchaikovky's music when looking at Van Cliburn's
hands. The only feeling you have is that you are a total ignoramus and
all you know is not worth a penny," says Hakopyan's colleague
Alexander Vasilevsky.
Hakopyan started as illusionist in circus but he got bored to use
machines. "I wanted to take them off the scene and to give my art
some more nobility. Gradually I learned to use my own hands only,"
says Hakopyan in his book "Variety Tricks." Published in 1961 this
book is one of the few available guides to juggling secrets. Later
many resented Hakopyan for exposing his magic.
There were over 1,000 tricks in Hakopyan's arsenal. Hundreds of them
are used by other jugglers today among them his son Hamayak Hakopyan.
MOSCOW, JANUARY 15. ARMINFO. One of the most renowned jugglers of the
Soviet times Harutyun Hakopyan, 86, died in Moscow Friday.
In the early 60s Hakopyan began overshadowing all the other conjurers
using mostly sophisticated accessories rather than their own deft
hands. By the end of his career he was reputed as almost the only
worthy manipulator in the world for the Soviet audience.
"To try to perceive whatever when looking at Hakopyan's hands is like
to try to perceive Tchaikovky's music when looking at Van Cliburn's
hands. The only feeling you have is that you are a total ignoramus and
all you know is not worth a penny," says Hakopyan's colleague
Alexander Vasilevsky.
Hakopyan started as illusionist in circus but he got bored to use
machines. "I wanted to take them off the scene and to give my art
some more nobility. Gradually I learned to use my own hands only,"
says Hakopyan in his book "Variety Tricks." Published in 1961 this
book is one of the few available guides to juggling secrets. Later
many resented Hakopyan for exposing his magic.
There were over 1,000 tricks in Hakopyan's arsenal. Hundreds of them
are used by other jugglers today among them his son Hamayak Hakopyan.