John Malkovich opened the international festival of Khachaturian in Armenia

The Armenian audience enjoyed a real festival of music and literature. 11 October in the concert hall “Aram Khachaturian” was held the V international festival of Khachaturian. The opening concert was marked by a speech by Hollywood stars, world-famous theatre and cinema actor, film Director John Malkovich.
International Aram Khachaturian international festival this year was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Aivazovsky and was held under the high patronage of RA President Serzh Sargsyan. Music festival-a joint project of the State youth orchestra of Armenia with the support of the RA Ministry of culture and Fund Khachaturian.
Thanks to the efforts of Sergey Smbatyan, the successful collaboration with Malkovich in Seoul (2015) and Buenos Aires (2016) has led to the idea of the concert in Yerevan, the Armenian public had an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the art of this outstanding artist.
The spectators were treated to a very unique evening: the synthesis of music, literature and great oratory and acting. Malkovich read the Chapter “Report on the blind” from the novel by Ernesto Sabato’s “on heroes and graves” performed by the Concerto for piano and string orchestra by Alfred Schnittke, one of the most prominent musical figures of the second half of the 20th century. The concert was held a Youth orchestra under the direction of S. Smbatyan and the soloist was the brilliant pianist Anastasia Cherenkova.
With regard to the programme of the festival, it runs until 11 December and promises to be rich and varied: symphonic and chamber concerts, long-awaited projects, including the performance of Tankian’s concert series “Khachaturian and jazz.” The expected performance of the favorite soloists-pianists Gloria Campaner, Hayk Melikyan and Levon Karapetyan, violin David Nebel, Mark Bushkova, bass Vladimir Baykov.