DAYS OF RUSSIAN CULTURE: Days of Russian Culture are being held in Armenia April 26-30, initiated by RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and the Mass Communication of Russia. RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Tamara Poghosian said during the April 26 press conference that singers, Nadezhda Babkina, people's artist of Russia, Yulya Nachalova, Alexander Buynov, satirists Semyon Altov, Yefim Shifrin, the Vivaldi orchestra, and Phonograph Jazz Band will participate in the gala concert at Karen Demirchian Sport and Concert Complex. Russian films will be shown at the Moscow movie-house of Yerevan, the "Igorki" theater will perform the "Behind Closed Doors" play with participation of Irina Alfyorova at the Russian Dramatic Theater after K. Stanislavsky. An exhibition entitled "On Hot Ground" of V. Sidorov, Chairman of the Artists' Union of Russia opened at the Artists' Union of Armenia on April 28. The Ballet Theater of Classical Dance Art performed the "Cinderella" ballet at the Opera and Ballet House on April 29. Arrangements will also be organized in Gyumrri, Vanadzor and Spitak within the framework of the Days of Russian Culture.

CONCERT OF COMMEMORATION: The performance of the "Giselle" ballet dedicated to freedom-fighter Gevorg Hambardzumyan's memory will take place at the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet on May 2. Levon Hambardzumian, the son of the freedom-fighter, will play the leading part in the ballet, reported Noyan-Tapan on April 29. The same day, an exhibition of over 50 works of Gevorg Hambardzumian will open in the lobby of the theater: paintings, drawings, sculptures will be exhibited. A model of the St. Cross Church of Akhtamar island of Van Lake will also be exhibited. Gevorg Hambardzumian perished in the village of Karmiravan of the Martakert region. He was posthumously awarded RA and NKR orders of the second degree "Combat Cross".

AUSTRIAN-ARMENIAN CULTURAL RELATIONS: A conference held at the Writers' Union of Armenia on April 28 was dedicated to Austrian modern literature. Austrian Ambassador to Armenia Heidemaria Guerer and a group of Austrian writers participated in the conference. Ambassador Guerer stressed that the Armenian and Austrian peoples are connected with two important circumstances: first of all, after Armenia the greatest collection of the Armenian ancient manuscripts are in Vienna at the Mkhitarian Congregation and the second, Franz Werfel's work titled "40 Days of Musa Dagh" is dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.

VLADIMIR SPIVAKOV TO VISIT ARMENIA: The conductor of Moscow Virtuosi ensemble, Vlidimir Spivakov, will visit Armenia next month.Spivakov will perform a solo concert at Aram Khachatrian concert hall on May 5.

He will perform Brahms, Shnitke and Straus. Spivakov is the winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Paganini International Violin Competition and Montreal Competition. Spivakov has been awarded with Russia's highest prize, the National Cultural Heritage Award, and is Ambassador of the Arts at the World Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He is married to Armenian Sati Spivakova.

INTERNATIONAL CINEMA FESTIVAL: “I am” youth international cinema festival is underway and will continue through May 2.

Young cinematographers from Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, the U.S.A., France, Great Britain, Sweden, Syria and Georgia participate in the event.

Movies and documentary films as well as clips and video-art are presented at the festival. Seven top prizes are intended. It the winner is a student, he will be given an opportunity to produce a film for free. If not, the winner will be awarded a prize of 500 USD.

Films will be shown in Cinema House. Entrance is free. The event is organized by Armenian Union of Cinematographers, Theatre and Cinema State Institute and Armenian Ministry of Culture and the Youth.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN’S CONCERT DEDICATED TO GENOCIDE : The refusal of the American government to officially recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915 continues to be a source of outrage among Armenian Americans, the largest concentration of whom live in Los Angeles.

According to Arminfo, it's something manic metal band System of a Down, whose members are all of Armenian descent, has been addressing for years, and on Saturday at the Greek Theatre, on the 89th anniversary of the beginning of the controversial episode, the band took its fight a step further with "Souls 2004," a benefit concert to raise awareness and money for the issue, reports the Los Angeles Times.

ON YEREVAN STAGES …

April 29 Russian Dramatic Theatre named after Stansilavsky Premier “Paris Twins”, directed by Alexander Grigoryan. Ticket cost 500-2000

May 2,3,4 Young Spectator’s Theatre Performance of Hrant Matevosyan’s story “Autumn Sun” by actress Violet Gevorgyan and director Artashes Hovhannsiyan. Tickets cost1000-2000 AMD.

May 10 Chamber Music Hall Concert of National Chamber Orchestra “Music, Love and Poetry”, conducted by Aram Gharabekyan, soloists Nune Badalyan (soprano), Lilit Grigoryan (Mezzo soprano), Ruben Nurijanyan (Tenor) and Garegin Hovsepyan from Germany (bariton). Ticket cost 500-2000 AMD.

May 12 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall Lyric and Music Evening devoted to 80 anniversary of Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak. Ticket cost 1000-3000 AMD.