On Tuesday, July 4, 2017, the Armenian world-famous singer Sirusho arrived in Montreal together with her manager, Nune Khurshudyan and artistic director, Christina Avagian.
During the three days of their stay, and before the concert, the artist and her crew were provided an opportunity to hold their rehearsals with both Hamazkayin Ani dance groups and Knar Choir, which had been preparing for the concert for a few months, based on Sirusho's videos and following their choreographers’ instructions.
Sirusho’s first solo concert in Montreal, took place on Friday, July 7, at 8PM, at the College Laval's Marcelin Champagnat Hall. The event, organized by the Executive Board of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association, could not have success without the efforts and support of Horizon Weekly’s editorial staff and especially the editor-in-chief, Vahagn Garagashian.
The Hamazkayin Executive Board Chair delivered the opening speech saying: "Today, with Sirusho's first concert, Montreal's Armenian community is having a historic day. For our Board it was a great pleasure to see our dance groups’ and the choir’s infinite enthusiasm of the past three days for having an opportunity to share the stage with the star″.
During the entire performance, the artist bewitched 760 attendees with her gracious and delicately made program, consisting of ethnic, ashug, and modern songs, dances and choir singing.
Ani Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin opened the concert with a potpourri dance. The Knar choir of Hamazkayin accompanied the singer with the song 301. The boys of both dance ensembles with their modern and traditional dancing stirred up the stage while Sirusho was performing her Pregomesh, Kelle Kelle, Hu Ha, Mher, and Zartonk songs. The girls enriched the songs Gozal, Shorora, and Erostas with their graceful dances.
The prominent duduk-player Vagharshak Adamian from Montreal accompanied the song Tamam Ashkharh.
At the end, after the long standing ovation, the chair of the Executive Board of Hamazkayin expressed her gratitude in the name of the Board to all those who supported this initiative to succeed, starting with Sirusho that took the audience to Homeland, from Yerevan to Kars and Ani, Sassoun, and Der Zor, and to all the Western Armenian lands with her songs. She also expressed gratitude to Sirusho's crew, the dance instructors, Eva Hayrapetyan and Joe Avakian, the Knar Choir’s conductor, Lori Antunian, and the duduk-player Vagharshak Adamian inviting them to the stage. A special gratitude was expressed to the ensemble’s Board member Silvie Merjanian who was responsible for the ticket sales and other organizational works. Finally, the speaker thanked those that always encourage the initiatives of Hamazkayin and appreciate the unwavering work of the Executive Board and its mission to preserve and promote the Armenian culture, remaining faithful to the spirit of the Hamazkayin Association.
The audience and Sirusho bid farewell and left the hall with the hope that this unforgettable evening would again be repeated in the future.
Executive Board of Sanahin Chapter