Armenian Spirit is back at the Bowl!
In case you haven't heard yet the Hollywood Bowl's Summer World Music Series is featuring "The Spirit of Armenia" on July 29th!
It's been a while since there has been an Armenian themed event at the Hollywood Bowl. I remember a few years back when we had the pleasure of hearing Djivan Gasbaryan and Winds of Passion perform at the Bowl and I think I can say everyone had goosebumps when the sounds of the duduk were floating around in the amphitheatre and bouncing off the Hollywood Hills.
I find it very flattering that of all the countries that could have been chosen Armenia was selected. It makes me wonder who decides and what the process entails. Did Armenians play a part in making it possible? I'm not even sure if this event is being publicized in the Armenia media. I no longer receive the Armenian newspaper and I don't have Armenian TV channels so I have no way of knowing.
I actually found out about this event through a KCRW newsletter I received through the mail which made me happier since I knew all my non-Armenians friends who are KCRW members would be getting it as well. In fact the entire event is sponsored by KCRW! I really hope that Armenians from around the Southland don't snatch up all the tickets and Non-Armenians who have an interest in our culture will be able to come and experience our culture in one of the most glorious ways I think possible... at the beautiful Hollywood Bowl!
The performers for the evening are: Adiss Harmandian, Andy, Silva Hakobyan, Sako, Djivan Gasbaryan,Hovhaness Shahbazyan, Element Band, Winds of Passion, Zvartnots Dance Ensemble and Vartan & Siranoush Gevorkian Dance Ensemble.
My family has already purchased 15 tickets and our entire "urta" will be attending this event. This is especially exciting for me since I haven't seen or heard of most of these performers except for Adiss, Djivan, Winds of Passion and Element. Anytime I hear Adiss I instantly flashback to my childhood when we used to listen to Happy Harry Hadikian's radio show. In fact, I like his music (and bakhlava) so much so, that I had named my old car Adiss and Shooshig had named her car Harout after Mr. Pamboukjian. Yes, we're cheesy Armenian music enthusiasts!
I know I'll love the Dance Ensembles since I always enjoy the Hamazkayin Ani Barakhoump's performances and anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I've always wanted to be in a barakhoump and sport a beautiful Armenian Daraz. Come to think of it I may go pay Shooshig's family a visit and if she left behind the Armenian Daraz she sewed herself for Halloween I may just "borrow" it ha ha!
I'm very curious how I'll react to the music of Andy and Sako and some of the other performers I've never heard of. I am most excited about seeing element. I have some of their music and like it, but I have yet to see them perform live. A few of the band members were a few grades below me at Ferrahian so it's nice to see their success! They're playing at the Hollywood Bowl for crying out loud how amazing is that!
By the way if anyone lives in close proximity to the Hollywood Bowl and is planning on not driving, please be aware that on Friday night my friends and I had the unfortunate experience of having an Armenian taxi cab driver turn off his meter and tell us we owed him $40 for a taxi cab ride that usually costs us under $13! The worst part was that we had an odar friend in the car and I'm sure she took note of how sad it was that someone we were chatting and laughing with in a foreign language proceeded to rip us off so horribly! On another occasion my friend and I were running late and didn't want to miss the first song at a Dave Matthews Band Concert at the Bowl so we pulled into a makeshift parking lot which was in actuality a dusty construction site complete with porta potties and forklifts where a young Armenian boy and his father were charging $40 to let cars in. I don't even think they had any clearance to let cars into that area but they were and I wanted to get to the concert ASAP so I talked them down a few bucks in Armenian of course and my Mexican friend just shook her head in awe at their audacity and after paying about $20 too much for parking I considered it all worth it when we made it to our seats just in the Knick of time as the lights went out and they started with my favorite song "The Best of What's around" (I learned my lesson back in 99' when we heard "Dream on" by Aerosmith while stuck on the escalators trying to get to the upper terrace and last summer when we heard "Wheel in the Sky" by Journey while getting our tickets scanned. Don't miss the first song...It's always the best one!)
If you don't want to drive to the Bowl you can park at various locations like the LA Zoo or Federal building in Westwood and take a shuttle. It's hassle free and only costs a couple bucks as opposed to the $10-40 you'll pay around the Bowl.
It's been a while since there has been an Armenian themed event at the Hollywood Bowl. I remember a few years back when we had the pleasure of hearing Djivan Gasbaryan and Winds of Passion perform at the Bowl and I think I can say everyone had goosebumps when the sounds of the duduk were floating around in the amphitheatre and bouncing off the Hollywood Hills.
I find it very flattering that of all the countries that could have been chosen Armenia was selected. It makes me wonder who decides and what the process entails. Did Armenians play a part in making it possible? I'm not even sure if this event is being publicized in the Armenia media. I no longer receive the Armenian newspaper and I don't have Armenian TV channels so I have no way of knowing.
I actually found out about this event through a KCRW newsletter I received through the mail which made me happier since I knew all my non-Armenians friends who are KCRW members would be getting it as well. In fact the entire event is sponsored by KCRW! I really hope that Armenians from around the Southland don't snatch up all the tickets and Non-Armenians who have an interest in our culture will be able to come and experience our culture in one of the most glorious ways I think possible... at the beautiful Hollywood Bowl!
The performers for the evening are: Adiss Harmandian, Andy, Silva Hakobyan, Sako, Djivan Gasbaryan,Hovhaness Shahbazyan, Element Band, Winds of Passion, Zvartnots Dance Ensemble and Vartan & Siranoush Gevorkian Dance Ensemble.
My family has already purchased 15 tickets and our entire "urta" will be attending this event. This is especially exciting for me since I haven't seen or heard of most of these performers except for Adiss, Djivan, Winds of Passion and Element. Anytime I hear Adiss I instantly flashback to my childhood when we used to listen to Happy Harry Hadikian's radio show. In fact, I like his music (and bakhlava) so much so, that I had named my old car Adiss and Shooshig had named her car Harout after Mr. Pamboukjian. Yes, we're cheesy Armenian music enthusiasts!
I know I'll love the Dance Ensembles since I always enjoy the Hamazkayin Ani Barakhoump's performances and anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I've always wanted to be in a barakhoump and sport a beautiful Armenian Daraz. Come to think of it I may go pay Shooshig's family a visit and if she left behind the Armenian Daraz she sewed herself for Halloween I may just "borrow" it ha ha!
I'm very curious how I'll react to the music of Andy and Sako and some of the other performers I've never heard of. I am most excited about seeing element. I have some of their music and like it, but I have yet to see them perform live. A few of the band members were a few grades below me at Ferrahian so it's nice to see their success! They're playing at the Hollywood Bowl for crying out loud how amazing is that!
By the way if anyone lives in close proximity to the Hollywood Bowl and is planning on not driving, please be aware that on Friday night my friends and I had the unfortunate experience of having an Armenian taxi cab driver turn off his meter and tell us we owed him $40 for a taxi cab ride that usually costs us under $13! The worst part was that we had an odar friend in the car and I'm sure she took note of how sad it was that someone we were chatting and laughing with in a foreign language proceeded to rip us off so horribly! On another occasion my friend and I were running late and didn't want to miss the first song at a Dave Matthews Band Concert at the Bowl so we pulled into a makeshift parking lot which was in actuality a dusty construction site complete with porta potties and forklifts where a young Armenian boy and his father were charging $40 to let cars in. I don't even think they had any clearance to let cars into that area but they were and I wanted to get to the concert ASAP so I talked them down a few bucks in Armenian of course and my Mexican friend just shook her head in awe at their audacity and after paying about $20 too much for parking I considered it all worth it when we made it to our seats just in the Knick of time as the lights went out and they started with my favorite song "The Best of What's around" (I learned my lesson back in 99' when we heard "Dream on" by Aerosmith while stuck on the escalators trying to get to the upper terrace and last summer when we heard "Wheel in the Sky" by Journey while getting our tickets scanned. Don't miss the first song...It's always the best one!)
If you don't want to drive to the Bowl you can park at various locations like the LA Zoo or Federal building in Westwood and take a shuttle. It's hassle free and only costs a couple bucks as opposed to the $10-40 you'll pay around the Bowl.
posted by LORI at 10:11 PM
4 Comments:
Lori,
The producer of the show is Stepan Partamian of Glendale. While I was on tour with YerazArt about a month ago, I caught up with him to take care of some Pomegranate business. He mentioned this project was in the works and the effort involved to get all of the artists. While I am not crazy about the entire roster, it's an ambitious undertaking in a great venue. Hats off to Stepan, again.
Hi Raffi,
Thanks for the info. Now I'm intrigued by Stepan's affiliations or connections with KCRW. I agree, I'm not thrilled about the lineup either, but I'm going to try to keep an open mind.
I also just found out that Isabella Bayrakdarian is appearing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 8th so I'll be attending that and reporting back.
Lori,
Stepan has worked with Tom Schnabel, the host of the show, in the past. Have fun at the show, it should be unique and fun. Especially in that setting...
Why does something this cool have to happen AFTER I move! :)
Sounds like Stepan put together a program for Armos of different flavors...old and new! (Some H.P. wouldn't have hurt...)
Take pics!
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