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“I bow to her name,” RA People’s Artist Ruben Matevosyan told reporters at the ceremony of unveiling of the monument dedicated to famous folk singer Ophelia Hambardzumian that took place on Wednesday at Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan. In Matevosyan’s words, Hambardzumian represents a certain era, in Armenian music, an inimitable phenomenon. “She belongs to the people, comes from their heart, represents their conscience and raises their voice from Yerevan to every corner of the world,” Matevosyan said.

RA People’s Artist Raisa Mkrtchyan also paid tribute to the memory of Hambardzumyan, suggesting the latter remains at the top of the Armenian music.

“I can’t see anyone to replace her, despite numerous imitations and attempts. She is unique in all respects,” the singer noted.

Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan attended the ceremony as well. He noted that it has been more than a year Hambardzumyan passed away yet her music will long inspire and nurture future generations. “Hambardzumyan’s performances are the best means for awakening of our nation’s identity its aspirations,” the minister noted.

The author of the monument sculptor Emin Petrosyan noted he had tried to reproduce the idea of the eternity of the singer. “The monument is symbolic with no image composition. That was the wish of her family to have an abstract composition. After drawing the sketches, we chose the current version. The sculpture represents the water circulation that symbolizes the idea of eternity. Her image is embodies in the drop epitomizing a drop in the ocean of culture. I remain optimist we will see such drops again as the Armenian folk music and songs will continue to live,” the sculptor said.

To remind, prominent singer, People’s Artist of the USSR Ophelya Hambardzumyan passed away at the age of 91 on June 13, 2016.