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The Times & Transcript (New Brunswick), Canada
September 13, 2013 Friday
Armenian community celebrates
Members of Atlantic Canada's Armenian community will share and
celebrate their rich heritage and tragic history during the fifth
Moncton Armenian Festival next month, as they pay tribute to
world-renowned Armenian singer Charles Aznavour.
The Armenian Festival is held every two years and has grown to become
a beacon for persons of Armenian descent from Atlantic Canada and
elsewhere, says organizer Sylvia Kasparian, a native of Paris who now
lives in Moncton.
"We have a Maritime association because there are not that many in
Moncton; we're only seven or 10 families. But since I started this
festival, it has become very strong in Moncton and brings people from
all over the Maritimes, from places like Fredericton and Moncton, and
so now the centre of it is here in Moncton."
Kasparian held a news conference at Moncton City Hall yesterday
announcing details of the festival. This year's theme will be a
tribute to Charles Aznavour, a French singer of Armenian descent who
has earned acclaim all over the world in a career that has spanned 70
years. The festival will include music, dance, poetry, films and a
concert paying tribute to Aznavour at the Capitol Theatre on Oct. 10.
Kasparian said the festival dates back to 2005, when local people of
Armenian descent wanted to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the
1915 genocide. "I realized that few people here knew about Armenia or
the genocide. We had about 80 people at the first event, and when it
was finished, people started asking about the next one, so we started
planning."
Armenia is a small country located in the highlands near Mount Ararat,
where Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest. The country traces its
history back more than 3,000 years and has some of the world's oldest
churches and ancient architecture. But the dark chapter in history is
the Armenian genocide of 1915, where up to a million people were
killed by the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey).
She said the festival is a chance for anyone to learn about the unique
culture and history.
The festival will open on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Aberdeen
Cultural Centre with an evening of performances. A series of films
featuring Charles Aznavour will be screened on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7
p.m. at the Jeanne-de-Valois amphitheatre at l'Université de Moncton.
A display of books, records and photos of Aznavour will be open to the
public at Champlain Library at UdeM from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14.
The highlight of the festival will be the tribute concert to Aznavour
at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 10. Performers at the concert
will include Mari-Jo Thério, Sandra Le Couter, Lina Boudreau, Michel
Carpentier and Serge Bédrossian, who performs in 10 languages.
Moncton's Les Jeunes chanteurs d'Acadie, directed by Nadine Hébert,
and 16-year-old Maxime Robichaud of Dieppe will also be part of the
evening. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the
Capitol box office for $28 (adults) and $18 (students).
A complete schedule for the Fifth Moncton Armenian Festival can be
found at www.festivalarmenien.com.
September 13, 2013 Friday
Armenian community celebrates
Members of Atlantic Canada's Armenian community will share and
celebrate their rich heritage and tragic history during the fifth
Moncton Armenian Festival next month, as they pay tribute to
world-renowned Armenian singer Charles Aznavour.
The Armenian Festival is held every two years and has grown to become
a beacon for persons of Armenian descent from Atlantic Canada and
elsewhere, says organizer Sylvia Kasparian, a native of Paris who now
lives in Moncton.
"We have a Maritime association because there are not that many in
Moncton; we're only seven or 10 families. But since I started this
festival, it has become very strong in Moncton and brings people from
all over the Maritimes, from places like Fredericton and Moncton, and
so now the centre of it is here in Moncton."
Kasparian held a news conference at Moncton City Hall yesterday
announcing details of the festival. This year's theme will be a
tribute to Charles Aznavour, a French singer of Armenian descent who
has earned acclaim all over the world in a career that has spanned 70
years. The festival will include music, dance, poetry, films and a
concert paying tribute to Aznavour at the Capitol Theatre on Oct. 10.
Kasparian said the festival dates back to 2005, when local people of
Armenian descent wanted to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the
1915 genocide. "I realized that few people here knew about Armenia or
the genocide. We had about 80 people at the first event, and when it
was finished, people started asking about the next one, so we started
planning."
Armenia is a small country located in the highlands near Mount Ararat,
where Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest. The country traces its
history back more than 3,000 years and has some of the world's oldest
churches and ancient architecture. But the dark chapter in history is
the Armenian genocide of 1915, where up to a million people were
killed by the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey).
She said the festival is a chance for anyone to learn about the unique
culture and history.
The festival will open on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Aberdeen
Cultural Centre with an evening of performances. A series of films
featuring Charles Aznavour will be screened on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7
p.m. at the Jeanne-de-Valois amphitheatre at l'Université de Moncton.
A display of books, records and photos of Aznavour will be open to the
public at Champlain Library at UdeM from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14.
The highlight of the festival will be the tribute concert to Aznavour
at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 10. Performers at the concert
will include Mari-Jo Thério, Sandra Le Couter, Lina Boudreau, Michel
Carpentier and Serge Bédrossian, who performs in 10 languages.
Moncton's Les Jeunes chanteurs d'Acadie, directed by Nadine Hébert,
and 16-year-old Maxime Robichaud of Dieppe will also be part of the
evening. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the
Capitol box office for $28 (adults) and $18 (students).
A complete schedule for the Fifth Moncton Armenian Festival can be
found at www.festivalarmenien.com.