CITY PIANO COMPETITION YEREVAN: A piano competition in honor of American pianist Vladimir Horowitz is to be held in Yerevan June 1-14.
The competition is organized with the financial support of US Embassy in Armenia. This is the first such competition. It will be held in two rounds among two age groups: 13-16 and 17-20. The competition will be held in the concert hall of Ghazaros Saryan Music School. The Gala will be held in Komitas Chamber Music House June 14. The winners will receive money awards and diplomas.

BUSINESSMAN HELP ARTISTS: The international movie festival "Golden Apricot" is to be held in Yerevan on June 30-July 4. At a press conference May 17, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA), appealed to local businessmen for sponsoring cultural events. "A nation's culture is its face, and not to keep it high we must sponsor culture," UMBA Chairman Arsen Ghazaryan said, according to Arminfo.
Director of the festival Harutyun Khachatryan says that a total of 55 films shot in 16 countries are to be demonstrated at the festival. The goal of the festival is not only presenting the best foreign films to the Armenian viewers, but also presenting Armenian cinema to the foreign viewers. The films shot by Armenian film directors from other countries will be demonstrated as a special category. The films will be demonstrated in the Moscow and Nairi cinemas.

ARMENIAN ART IN TURKEY: The State Academic Theater after G. Sundukian, as well as theaters from 14 countries participated in the international drama festival held in Trabzon (Turkey) from May 4 to 14. Actors of the Armenian theater performed Anton Chekov's "Cherry Orchard". According to Vahe Shahverdian, Artistic Director of the Theater, the festival didn't have a contest program, and all the participants were given diplomas. It was mentioned that organizers of the festival themselves asked actors of the theater after Sundukian to perform this work of Chekov, as the 100th anniversary of the "Cherry Orchard" play is in 2004. Vahe Shahverdian said that the performance was a great success in Trabzon. The theater received the invitation to perform with this play in Bulgaria, Albania and Romania.

MYSTERY OF SARGIS' CONCEPTUAL ART: On May 19, the exhibitions of Sargis (Sargis Zabunian), a modern French-Armenian painter, one of the outstanding figures of conceptual art, under the "Inside" and "Reflection and Grandeur" titles were opened simultaneously in "HayArt" cultural center and House-Museum of Sergei Parajanov. This is the first exhibition of the painter's works in Armenia, and will last till September.

LIMIT OF LOVE: "This is a book about real and impossible love, the story of one-sided tragic love existing in all times." Hasmik Charents (grantdauther of Eghishe Charents), a poetess, gave such characteristics to her first collection of poems entitled "Limit of Love," the presentation of which took place on May 19 and reported by Noyan-Tapan on May 20.
Works written during the last 5 years are included in the book. According to Sergey Sarinian, an academician, the spirit of Eghishe Charents is felt in poems by Hasmik: "Inheritance of one percent of the great poet's talent is enough for becoming a poetess."

RETURNING WITH FIRST PRIZES: Sona Barseghian, Anush Nikoghosian, Anush Yavrumian, students of the Yerevan musical school after P. Chaikovsky, returned from the international musical contest-festival held in the United Arab Emirates in early May with first prizes.
Boys and girls aged under 16 from the Czech Republic, Poland, Egypt, Korea and Russia participated in the contest.

RELIEVED DIRECTOR: Sos Petrosian, Director of the Yerevan State Circus, has been replaced by Andreas Srapian, former head adviser of the Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, (Noyan Tapan, May 19).
Zhasmina Ghevondian, Spokeswoman of the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, told NT's correspondent that according to article 20 of the Labor Code, relatives can't work in one and the same establishment and be controlled by each other. And as Sos Petrosian's daughter is the Artistic Director of the Circus, one of them should retire within the framework of the law. According to the Ministry of Culture, the newly appointed Director isn't against Sos Petrosian's occupying the post of the Artistic Director of the Circus. The latter's daughter will be taken to another corresponding job.

ARSHILE GORKY TO BE REBURIED IN ARMENIA: By the end of the current year the remains of artist Arshile Gorky (Vostanik Adoyan) will be conveyed from the US to Armenia. According to Arshile Gorky Fund Director Badal Badalian (reported in Panarmenian network), it was the dying wish of the painter to be buried at his homeland.

In the near future financial and technical issues connected with the reburial of the painter's ashes will be solved, while the Armenian government should determine the place for it. Though, in the opinion of B. Badalian, the remains of Arshile Gorky, who was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, should be buried at the Hill of Tsitsernakaberd, where the monument to the Genocide victims is erected.

ON YEREVAN STAGES …

May 20 Yerevan State Dramatic Theatre, Premiere directed by young artist Grigor Khachaturyan “Last Lesson” with well known artists of Dramatic Theatre. Ticket cost 1000-2000.

May 27 National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Solo concert of pop singer Hayko, Ticket cost 2000-7000AMD.

May 29 National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Aram Khachatryan’s Ballet “Gayane” with decorations of prominent painter Minas Avetisyan. Performance Ballet master Vilen Galstyan, artistic director Gegham Grigoryan. Ticket cost 2000-5000 AMD.