50 years with the State Choir
Fifty years ago, on November 27, 1961, the State Choir of Armenia performed under the direction of its new artistic director, Hovhannes Chekijian.
Before the 32-year old Istanbul-Armenian musician became the Choir's director, the Choir had had 11 choirmasters, and the last choirmaster had resigned. So, the State Choir had no director and was on the verge of disbandment. The maestro's coming to Armenia became the Choir's fate.
He led the Choir's victory campaign and helped it receive the high title of Academic Choir and the highest appreciation of great cultural figures. The Choir has given more than 800 concerts in the former Soviet republics and foreign countries.
The maestro says the concerts in Leningrad were special in that the Shostakovich Hall was one of the best concert halls in Europe and that the Leningrad Academic Symphonic Orchestra was one of the best orchestras in Europe.
Fifty years later, on the same day at the same concert hall named after Aram Khachatryan, the 80-year old maestro will conduct the high-class music with the singers and musicians through his unique interpretations.
