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Operatic soprano Araks Mansuryan familiarizes foreigners with the history of Armenia through Armenian songs. The Armenian soprano currently teaches in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and it is thanks to her that many young foreign singers have included works by Komitas, Kanachyan, Melikyan, Spendiaryan and other Armenian composers in their repertoires.

Araks Mansuryan said in her interview with Panorama.am: “Surprisingly when I sing Komitas or teach someone to sign his songs, people get emotional without understanding the meaning of the words. Music conveys something about the life we’ve lived and the hardships we went through. They always say that it is so sad. They feel this music, immediately understand it and start to like it. I have Korean, Chinese and Australian students. They ask me to teach them Komitas music. I presented a CD with Komitas songs to all of my students. This is how I get into contact with foreigners and succeed in introducing them to our history”. 

The female singer noted that after a concert, many listeners also approach and tell her that they find Komitas works touching, although they don’t understand the words.

Araks Mansuryan will travel to Japan on March 20-28, 2016 to participate in an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“I received an invitation from Ambassador Hrant Poghosyan and Japanese pianist Takahiro Akiba. During the concert I will sign one or two songs by Komitas. I will also give master classes and work with the pianists accompanying the singers,” she said.

Araks Mansuryan was born in 1946 in Beirut. In 1947 their family moved to Armenia. A. Mansuryan studied at Romanos Melikyan College of Music. In 1977 she graduated from Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. In 1977-1992 she sang roles at Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theatre, while in 1992 she made her debut as a soloist at the Sydney Opera. She has appeared in the roles of Verdi's "Aida", Leonora (Il Trovatore), Elisabetta de Valois (Don Carlos), Nedda (Pagliacci), Mimí (La Boheme), Tatiana (Eugene Onegin), Lisa (Pikovaya Dama), Maddalena (Andrea Chenier), Shoushan (Davit Bek), and the title role in Tigranian's "Anoush".

Since living in Australia Araks Mansuryan has sung the roles of Liu (Turandot), Desdemona (Otello), Leonora (La Forza del Destino), Elisabeth (Tannhauser), Elisabetta de Valois (Don Carlo), Amelia Grimalldi (Simon Boccanegra), Kundry (Parsifal), Isolde (Tristan and Isolde), Madelon (Ardrea Chenier), and Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera). 

In 2015, on the occasion of the First Republic Day, Araks Mansuryan was awarded Armenia’s Medal for Service to the Fatherland 1st class.