Composer Marine Ales’ “One of You…” concerts take place within 100 LIVES project
Within 100 LIVES project initiated by Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation, Marine Ales gave a series of concerts titled “One of You…”. The concerts started at Vardan Achemyan State Dramatic Theater in Gyumri on October 28, continued at Kote Marjanishvili State Academic Theater in Tbilisi on October 30 and ended at the State Hermitage Theater in Saint Petersburg, according to the PR Department of Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan attended the concert in Tbilisi.
The concerts are aimed at once again raising public awareness on the 100 LIVES project and its mission. It should be recalled that 100 LIVES project’s objective is to pay homage to the individuals and organizations whose heroic efforts saved hundreds of thousands of Armenians during the Armenian Genocide 100 years ago.
During the concerts, Marine Ales’ performances were followed by stories of the Genocide’s survivors.
The old and new works by the composer were performed by Forsh, Davit Amalyan, Gevorg Hakobyan, Janina, Jivan Gasparyan Junior accompanied by Cadence ensemble.
The concert halls were full and people warmly welcomed the performances. Marine Ales also met with the local creative community. One of the most touching meetings was at Hayartun Cultural-Educational and Youth Center at Armenian Diocese in Georgia where the students of the center surprised the composer by beautiful performances of her works.
“I’m impressed by people’s warm welcome: I felt the energy and quiet approval of the audience everywhere - in Gyumri, Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg. I’m also happy that I managed to help the 100 LIVES project and once again communicate the mission and ideology of the project through art”, Marine Ales noted summing up the concerts.
“The concerts were aimed at raising public awareness on the 100 LIVES project and presenting the Genocide survivors’ stories recalling once again that we weren’t alone and we were supported by numerous people of various nationalities. We decided to start in Gyumri, a surviving city, which sheltered more than 30 thousand orphans 100 years ago. The concert held in “literary-musical evening” format had a clear message which was in high demand, and we are touched by the welcome of the audience. We are going to present the concert program in other cities abroad as well in near future”, noted Aren Apikyan, Partnerships Director at 100 LIVES project.
100 LIVES project and Marine Ales also prepared gifts for students of cultural centers of the Armenian communities in Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg as well as Gyumri music school pupils. Also, they gifted national costumes to the dance group of Hayartun Cultural- Educational and Youth Center at Armenian Diocese in Georgia and a piano to the cultural center at Saint Petersburg’s Saint Catherine Church; music school after Sheram in Gyumri and Ani orchestra got wind instruments.