Tweet
ARMENIAN AND BRITISH CHARITIES CELEBRATED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
By:Armenian Weekly
Mon, Jun 20 2011
LONDON, United Kingdom-His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales hosted
a historic Anglo-Armenian charity event in support of Armenian and
British charities at Buckingham Palace on June 15. Project initiator
and main benefactor Armen Sarkissian, former Prime Minister of Armenia
and President of Eurasia House International, welcomed more than 250
guests from around the world with His Royal Highness.
(L to R): HRH The Prince of Wales, Levon Sayan, Charles Aznavour,
and Armen Sarkisisan.
Members of the royal family, dignitaries, world-renowned political,
cultural and civic leaders, and senior executives of global
corporations attended this unique charity event. Prime Minister of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, and Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan were
among the guests of honor.
"It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to welcome you all to
this very special occasion at Buckingham Palace," said the Prince of
Wales in his remarks and expressed his thanks to all the donors of
"Yerevan My Love" and Dumfries House.
The evening started with a reception, following by a unique concert
especially put together on this occasion. World renowned soprano Renee
Fleming and violin virtuoso and conductor Maxim Vengerov, took part in
the programme, along with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London) and the
Bach Choir. In addition to Handel, the choir sang most moving pieces
from the Armenian liturgy, Surb, Surb and Hayr Mer by Makar Ekmalian.
As a tribute to "Yerevan My Love," Vengerov played Komitas's Krung
for the first time in his musical career, captivating the emotions of
the audience. Renee Fleming enthralled the audience not only with her
superb and mesmerizing voice, but also with her poignant remarks. A
banquet followed in the magnificent Picture Gallery of the Palace.
"Yerevan My Love" is a heritage-led regeneration project dedicated to
preserving architecturally significant buildings in Yerevan and putting
them to use to improve the life experience of disabled children,
young people and disadvantaged families. Following the successful
fundraising in 2010, three buildings in the vicinity of St.
Hovhanes Church in the Kond neighbourhood of Yerevan are being built
and reconstructed. Three additional architecturally significant
buildings will be reconstructed in the Old Yerevan neighbourhood as
part of the second phase of "Yerevan My Love project," supported by
the fundraising this year.
In his eloquent remarks, Armen Sarkissian highlighted the role of
every individual in the preservation of culture and heritage and the
universality of culture. He said, "It is a privilege for me to thank
you each and every one of you for your contributions, for your support
and, most important, for sharing a belief that culture and heritage
are part of our soul and we have to pass it on to the next generation,
to our children."
The Prince of Wales underlined that "the evening is also an occasion
to strengthen the strong ties and friendship between Armenia and the
United Kingdom. He said, "I have long admired Armenia as the oldest
Christian nation in the world, with its unique architectural heritage.
It is so heartening that the 'Yerevan My Love' project is preserving
and continuing traditional Armenian architecture and craftsmanship."
Dumfries House is a unique house in South-West Scotland which
had retained much of the furniture commissioned for it from Thomas
Chippendale. A few years ago The Prince of Wales forestall the separate
sales of the House and its contents to private bidders. He has since
assured that the House and its unique collection of furniture are
preserved for the British nation and future generations.
Armen Sarkissian thanked His Royal Highness for his visionary
leadership and foresight in many critical issues facing not only
Britain but also the entire globe. "We thank him for his full support
and cooperation in making this night a very special occasion,"
said Sarkissian. He pointed out that "the international array of
participation is a wonderful example of global cooperation in charity
and heritage preservation."
By:Armenian Weekly
Mon, Jun 20 2011
LONDON, United Kingdom-His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales hosted
a historic Anglo-Armenian charity event in support of Armenian and
British charities at Buckingham Palace on June 15. Project initiator
and main benefactor Armen Sarkissian, former Prime Minister of Armenia
and President of Eurasia House International, welcomed more than 250
guests from around the world with His Royal Highness.
(L to R): HRH The Prince of Wales, Levon Sayan, Charles Aznavour,
and Armen Sarkisisan.
Members of the royal family, dignitaries, world-renowned political,
cultural and civic leaders, and senior executives of global
corporations attended this unique charity event. Prime Minister of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, and Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan were
among the guests of honor.
"It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to welcome you all to
this very special occasion at Buckingham Palace," said the Prince of
Wales in his remarks and expressed his thanks to all the donors of
"Yerevan My Love" and Dumfries House.
The evening started with a reception, following by a unique concert
especially put together on this occasion. World renowned soprano Renee
Fleming and violin virtuoso and conductor Maxim Vengerov, took part in
the programme, along with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London) and the
Bach Choir. In addition to Handel, the choir sang most moving pieces
from the Armenian liturgy, Surb, Surb and Hayr Mer by Makar Ekmalian.
As a tribute to "Yerevan My Love," Vengerov played Komitas's Krung
for the first time in his musical career, captivating the emotions of
the audience. Renee Fleming enthralled the audience not only with her
superb and mesmerizing voice, but also with her poignant remarks. A
banquet followed in the magnificent Picture Gallery of the Palace.
"Yerevan My Love" is a heritage-led regeneration project dedicated to
preserving architecturally significant buildings in Yerevan and putting
them to use to improve the life experience of disabled children,
young people and disadvantaged families. Following the successful
fundraising in 2010, three buildings in the vicinity of St.
Hovhanes Church in the Kond neighbourhood of Yerevan are being built
and reconstructed. Three additional architecturally significant
buildings will be reconstructed in the Old Yerevan neighbourhood as
part of the second phase of "Yerevan My Love project," supported by
the fundraising this year.
In his eloquent remarks, Armen Sarkissian highlighted the role of
every individual in the preservation of culture and heritage and the
universality of culture. He said, "It is a privilege for me to thank
you each and every one of you for your contributions, for your support
and, most important, for sharing a belief that culture and heritage
are part of our soul and we have to pass it on to the next generation,
to our children."
The Prince of Wales underlined that "the evening is also an occasion
to strengthen the strong ties and friendship between Armenia and the
United Kingdom. He said, "I have long admired Armenia as the oldest
Christian nation in the world, with its unique architectural heritage.
It is so heartening that the 'Yerevan My Love' project is preserving
and continuing traditional Armenian architecture and craftsmanship."
Dumfries House is a unique house in South-West Scotland which
had retained much of the furniture commissioned for it from Thomas
Chippendale. A few years ago The Prince of Wales forestall the separate
sales of the House and its contents to private bidders. He has since
assured that the House and its unique collection of furniture are
preserved for the British nation and future generations.
Armen Sarkissian thanked His Royal Highness for his visionary
leadership and foresight in many critical issues facing not only
Britain but also the entire globe. "We thank him for his full support
and cooperation in making this night a very special occasion,"
said Sarkissian. He pointed out that "the international array of
participation is a wonderful example of global cooperation in charity
and heritage preservation."