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Garo Paylan’s fight against minority oppression in Turkey
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February 25, 2010
Sofia Chamber Orchestra Enters Fourth Season
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AGBU Sofia Chamber Orchestra conducted by Maestro Bedros Papazyan.
The AGBU Sofia Chamber Orchestra, which was founded by AGBU Sofia, began its fourth season on October 4, 2009 with a concert entitled "Autumn Motives" in the hall of the NMA Pancho Vladigerov Academy, which was full of enthusiastic people. The concert, conducted by Maestro Bedros Papazyan, started with the premiere of the "Aznavour" Suite, specially composed by the Bulgarian composer Vassil Spassov for the orchestra and "devoted to the Armenian Cause all over the world." Also performed were well-known jazz compositions arranged and performed by the Vassil Spassov Jazz Trio, featuring guest jazz singer Militsa Gladnishka, saxophonist Peter Momchev and double bassist Martin Doykin.
The second concert of the autumn season, "Flight to Eternity," took place on November 22, 2009 at the Concert Hall of the Bulgarian National Conservatory and was conducted by the famous Bulgarian composer Georgi Andreev. Its program included works by Gomidas, Vivaldi and Bach, plus Andreev's powerful symphony "Phoenix," which was dedicated to the Armenian Genocide and presented for the second time with this chamber orchestra. In three parts, "Fire," "Complaint" and "Armenian Dance," the symphony presents the suffering of the Armenians, the terror of the extermination, and finally the coming back to life. The new name in the evening's concert program was Nelly Andreeva, Georgi's wife, who sang two songs, one of which was Gomidas' "Hoy Nazan."
AGBU Sofia Chamber Orchestra gave its final autumn concert, "It's Christmas," on December 20, 2009, with Maestro Papazyan conducting. Some 30 children from the town of Pazardjik participated with songs and dances composed by Haygashot Agasian. In addition, more than 100 toys, which had been donated to AGBU Sofia Chapter by the Armenian businessman Kegham Ghazarian, were distributed to all the children present, after the concert. The highlight of the program, however, was the presentation of the Bulgarian edition of Turkish-Armenian lawyer Fethiye Cetin's book "My Grandmother," which was translated, published and presented by Ararat News Publishing-ANP. A beautiful commemorative plaque was given to Fethiye Cetin by AGBU Sofia Chapter. Following the concert, YP Sofia organized a welcome dinner for Cetin and Ararat News Publishing.
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