Magdeburg and Hale (Germany) hosted two choral festivals – European night of choral art and international festival of children’s choirs – from May 6 to 11. The event brought together best choirs from Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Belarus. Armenia was represented by Speghani choir, whose program featured Komitas and Vache Shafaryan’s works.
Speghani’s concert began with a minute of silence to honor the memory of soldiers killed in Shushu liberation battle, the fathers of the children who sang in the choir when it was formed in 1996.
“During each tour abroad I am asked under the aegis of which music school or academy the choir functions. And each time I refrain from giving an exact answer,” said Sarina Avtandilyan, the founder and conductor of the choir.
Speghani’s participation in German festivals became possible thanks to the Armenian Ministry of Culture. But the issue of premised is still not settled. “Preparing for various festivals, we have to rehearse in 4 different halls every day. Thanks to patience of our singers and their parents we achieved success. But Speghani can’t exist without financial assistance and premises,” Mrs. Avtandilyan said.
“Sarina Avtandalyan, who widowed in Karabakh war, is a member of International Choir Association. Speghani, which consists of 60 children, is in the list of best choirs in Europe. And now, it has no place to rehearse,” art critic Margarita Rukhkyan said.
