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Interview with Levon Aronian: I am proud to be Armenian
March 4
By Vera Martirosyan
YEREVAN.- Levon Aronian is very proud to be born in Armenia. `We have
given the world a lot, but at the same time, I do not think that we
always have to demand the copyright,' he said in an interview with
NEWS.am Sport.
Levon, you always say that you find calmness in music. Does it happen
than you isolate yourself prior to any tournament and stay alone with
music?
I always like that. I am not a fanatic, but in matters of music I have
fanaticism. Because of music, I get the concept of `divine' or
`universal'.
You're a jazz fan. What is the genre that brings you peace?
I will not single out anyone. For me, John Coltrane is everything! He
is my faith. I can not say what kind of music he plays. You must feel
it in yourself. I also like folklore. No matter what country music:
Armenian, African, Turkish or Azerbaijani. If you find something in
common with the musician, it is wonderful.
Levon, you were always proud of their nationality, but at the same
time you are a cosmopolitan. Do you like listening to the Turkish and
Azerbaijani music, or like eating their food? The centuries-old feud
between Armenians and Turks also reflected the culture.
I would not say that I am a cosmopolitan. I am very proud that I was
born in Armenia and feel Armenian. At the same time, I am proud that I
can have fun, regardless of the name and labels. You can play music
and entertain people, not telling him what country this dish comes
from. He can enjoy it without knowing where it came from. I do not
accept the idea that there are things that should be accepted and
things which can never be accepted. This is ours, and that belongs to
them. I am very proud of my nation with its ancient history. We have
given the world a lot, but at the same time, I do not think that we
always have to demand the copyright to it. When I see these symptoms
in different people, I understand that it is not very civilized. We
should be proud of our culture, but not make an idol of it. Well, when
you share your culture with others, it is much more pleasant. I often
tell my friends or show something and say it is ours, but I'm not sure
whether we have created it or taken from other people, but it is
Armenian. I do it and say - this is from the area.
There were rumors about creating pan-Armenian chess tournament, where
all strong Armenian players could participate. Would you participate
in the tournament?
It would be great to organize such a tournament. We always had the
idea to make Armenian championship stronger. But during the year it
happens that we do not have time to participate in several
tournaments, because we still have to rest.
Levon, how can we help you?
Armenian people are doing everything for me. I feel this warmth.
People appreciate our work. It has always been my dream, and I think
every player dreams about it. In other countries, chess players are
not treated as in our country. I have not seen such attitude in other
countries. We are very pleased to feel this attitude.
You have recently posted on Twitter a photo of dolma cooked by Ariana.
This photo was quickly spread all over the internet and received very
warm reviews. What other Armenian dishes can Ariana cook?
She loves to cook different dishes. My mother had taught her a lot.
She likes to cook not only Armenian dishes, for example borsh [soup of
Ukrainian origin] and eggplant with nuts.
Do you like dolma [national Armenian dish-ed.]?
I have not eaten meat for 12 years. Mom cooks pasuts dolma [dolma
without meat - ed.] but Ariana has not learned how to cook it. This is
the next step.
Are you a vegetarian?
No, I eat fish. Simply, at some point I began to think that the
animals whose meat we eat, are very close to people. I have this bad
feeling since childhood, when I was in the countryside and saw how
they killed animals. But I have not seen how they kill fish
(laughing).
- See more at: http://sport.news.am/eng/news/20102/interview-with-levon-aronian-i-am-proud-to-be-armenian.html#sthash.xf9mRXcW.dpuf
From: A. Papazian
March 4
By Vera Martirosyan
YEREVAN.- Levon Aronian is very proud to be born in Armenia. `We have
given the world a lot, but at the same time, I do not think that we
always have to demand the copyright,' he said in an interview with
NEWS.am Sport.
Levon, you always say that you find calmness in music. Does it happen
than you isolate yourself prior to any tournament and stay alone with
music?
I always like that. I am not a fanatic, but in matters of music I have
fanaticism. Because of music, I get the concept of `divine' or
`universal'.
You're a jazz fan. What is the genre that brings you peace?
I will not single out anyone. For me, John Coltrane is everything! He
is my faith. I can not say what kind of music he plays. You must feel
it in yourself. I also like folklore. No matter what country music:
Armenian, African, Turkish or Azerbaijani. If you find something in
common with the musician, it is wonderful.
Levon, you were always proud of their nationality, but at the same
time you are a cosmopolitan. Do you like listening to the Turkish and
Azerbaijani music, or like eating their food? The centuries-old feud
between Armenians and Turks also reflected the culture.
I would not say that I am a cosmopolitan. I am very proud that I was
born in Armenia and feel Armenian. At the same time, I am proud that I
can have fun, regardless of the name and labels. You can play music
and entertain people, not telling him what country this dish comes
from. He can enjoy it without knowing where it came from. I do not
accept the idea that there are things that should be accepted and
things which can never be accepted. This is ours, and that belongs to
them. I am very proud of my nation with its ancient history. We have
given the world a lot, but at the same time, I do not think that we
always have to demand the copyright to it. When I see these symptoms
in different people, I understand that it is not very civilized. We
should be proud of our culture, but not make an idol of it. Well, when
you share your culture with others, it is much more pleasant. I often
tell my friends or show something and say it is ours, but I'm not sure
whether we have created it or taken from other people, but it is
Armenian. I do it and say - this is from the area.
There were rumors about creating pan-Armenian chess tournament, where
all strong Armenian players could participate. Would you participate
in the tournament?
It would be great to organize such a tournament. We always had the
idea to make Armenian championship stronger. But during the year it
happens that we do not have time to participate in several
tournaments, because we still have to rest.
Levon, how can we help you?
Armenian people are doing everything for me. I feel this warmth.
People appreciate our work. It has always been my dream, and I think
every player dreams about it. In other countries, chess players are
not treated as in our country. I have not seen such attitude in other
countries. We are very pleased to feel this attitude.
You have recently posted on Twitter a photo of dolma cooked by Ariana.
This photo was quickly spread all over the internet and received very
warm reviews. What other Armenian dishes can Ariana cook?
She loves to cook different dishes. My mother had taught her a lot.
She likes to cook not only Armenian dishes, for example borsh [soup of
Ukrainian origin] and eggplant with nuts.
Do you like dolma [national Armenian dish-ed.]?
I have not eaten meat for 12 years. Mom cooks pasuts dolma [dolma
without meat - ed.] but Ariana has not learned how to cook it. This is
the next step.
Are you a vegetarian?
No, I eat fish. Simply, at some point I began to think that the
animals whose meat we eat, are very close to people. I have this bad
feeling since childhood, when I was in the countryside and saw how
they killed animals. But I have not seen how they kill fish
(laughing).
- See more at: http://sport.news.am/eng/news/20102/interview-with-levon-aronian-i-am-proud-to-be-armenian.html#sthash.xf9mRXcW.dpuf
From: A. Papazian