Concluding event The concert of Aram Khachaturyan's compositions close events commemorating the 100th birthday anniversary of the composer at the State Theater of Opera and Ballet.

Edward Tadevossyan (violin), Medeya Abrahamyan (violoncello), Anahit Nersessyan (piano), and Jivan Gasparyan (duduk) were among featured musicians. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Russian Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvydkoy and the composer's son Karen Khachaturyan where present at the concert.


Armenian National Picture Gallery, boasting one of the richest depositories of paintings among other CIS countries, will re-open next month after an 18-month break for repairs.

The deputy director of the Gallery, Hasmik Harutunyan, said the reopening will be marked by a big display of Armenian graphic art. The Gallery is preparing now an album that will represent its best works. The Embassy of Iran has contributed to organization of a special hall dedicated to Iranian art and also (Greek owned) Armentel telephone company has helped to better organizers sections dedicated to Old Greece and Egypt.



Youth for Peace A festival of one-minute films on the subject "Youth and Peace" was held in Yerevan's Moscow cinema on December 16 in the framework of the UNIFEM regional program "Women for the Sake of Peace and Conflict Settlement in the South Caucasus."

Arminfo reported the event was aimed to involve the Armenian youth in the search for peaceful ways of the regional conflicts settlement. Over 100 children and youths of 8-22 showed their creative attitude towards the problem in 15 one-minute movies. Similar projects have been held in Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Learning Armenian Armenian Church of America (Eastern) published two new books aimed at helping people learn Armenian, Noyan-Tapan reported on December 16. The first book, "Zarteer," is a compilation of the best resource materials created by the Diocese in the past few years. It helps students learn Armenian through recited readings, quizzes and crossword puzzles, and arts, crafts and cooking. The other book, "To the Point," is a new self-teaching book that anyone can use to learn or improve Armenian language skills at home.

Memories in Abstract art 2004 will mark the birthday centenary of the prominent Armenian painter Arshile Gorky. New York, the place where the Armenian painter lived and worked most of his life after escaping 1915 Armenian genocide, plans to hold a great exhibition of his works. Also, New York based "Parrar Straus & Zhiru" publishing house has already issue a work of Hayden Herrera named "Arshile Gorky", as reported "Azg" online.

Gorky is not forgotten in the Armenia proper as well. The Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin plans to open a museum dedicated to Gorky, which will be located right next to the Catholicos' headquarters.

On Yerevan Stages…

December 21 Armenian Chamber Orchestra directed by Aram Gharabekyan will perform Ludwig Van Bethoven's 9th Symphony. Soloists will be Nune Badalyan (soprano) and Rouben Nurijanyan (Tenor).

December 24 Folk singer Susanna Safaryan will present "Ari Nor Tari" (Come New Year), which will take place in Philharmonic Small Hall.

December 24 Armenian Pop Symphonic orchestra directed by Yervand Yerznkyan will perform in Stanislavski Theatre. The concert will include performances by Armenian jazz- pop singers and Araksi Kukuchyan from England.

December 31 Armenian First National Musical Award, at the Dramatic Theater. The concert will present winners from 18 National Award nominations.