TURKISH PERFORMERS WOW ARMENIAN AUDIENCE

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001028


E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KPAO SCUL AM

SUBJECT: TURKISH PERFORMERS WOW ARMENIAN AUDIENCE

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Summary
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1. The Turkish folk group Kardes Turkuler and the Armenian Sayat
Nova Choir, both from Istanbul, gave a moving performance at the
Yerevan opera house as part of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation
"Music Bridge" project funded by USAID. Playing to a full hall, the
groups sang to traditional instruments playing old and new
compositions of mostly Armenian, Turkish and some Kurdish songs.
The Armenian group sang in Turkish and the Turkish group in
Armenian. The reception by the Armenian public and press was
positive. Such cross border initiatives serve to dispel the
feelings of fear and mistrust still harbored by many Armenians
towards their Turkish neighbors. End Summary.

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A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR AN ARMENIAN AUDIENCE
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2. The Ambassador introduced the two groups, emphasizing the
interaction between the two cultures throughout history. The
performance began with "Oh, Hayots Ashkhar" (Oh, World of Armenia).
Songs by Armenian composers such as Komitas and Sayat Nova followed.
The crowd became increasingly involved with the music as the
program proceeded. There was a pleasing buzz of excitement during
intermission and our Armenian guests, such as Deputy Foreign
Minister Kirakossian, commented favorably on the choice of music and
the quality of the performance.


3. The second part of the program opened with a film clip of the
recently assassinated Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, explaining
his efforts to reconcile the Armenian and Turkish communities in
Istanbul. This was followed by a new composition inspired by Dink's
last article, "They don't kill pigeons in my country," which was
introduced by the composer/conductor in an emotional speech that
eulogized Dink and all he stood for. Another piece on the
traditional Armenian flute, the duduk, was dedicated to "brother
Dink". At the end of his solo, the duduk player declared that
"until his last breath, his duduk would always play for peace." The
audience was so intensely focused during this part of the
performance, one could hear a pin drop.


4. In contrast, by the end of the performance, people were dancing
in the aisles. The groups received a standing ovation and calls for
an encore performance. The event received favorable coverage in the
Armenian press. The Turkish press was also there to interview the
Ambassador among others.


5. Apparently, bringing Turkish musicians to perform in Armenia is
more controversial than bringing Turkish football players. Both
President Serzh Sargsian and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian declined
to attend; the Deputy Foreign Minister, who had been very helpful in
eliminating problems along the way, only agreed to attend after the
Ambassador called him personally. Nevertheless, the performance
was received well in Armenia and we have not heard any criticism.
Armine Hovannisian, wife of prominent opposition politician Raffi
Hovannisian, described her conflicted feelings while attending the
performance in an article entitled "Plea to My Turkish Friends"
published in the Turkish Daily News. Post believes that events
like this are important in helping to dispel the misperceptions and
instinctive fears that many Armenians still feel regarding their
neighbors across the border to the west.

Yovanovitch