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"PEOPLE IN RUSSIA LIKE TO LISTEN TO ARMENIAN SONGS"
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 28 2014
28 May 2014 - 10:14am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Music fans know her as the singer Zara and a participant in TV
projects; music fans who are interested in politics know her as Zarifa
Mgoyan, the former wife of the son of the former governor of St.
Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko. It is believed that Zara was raised
in eastern traditions and is a very unsociable person. However,
she was open with Vestnik Kavkaza.
- Zara, tell us about your roots.
- I am a Kurd, but I was born in Armenia. My mother was born in
Leninakan, my father in Yerevan. I have an Armenian surname. Of course
many Kurds got assimilated, so Armenian blood runs in us. My childhood
took place in Leninakan. I remember the holiday of Vardavar, when we
all showered with water; I remember that my mother took me to a market
and all the traders gave me treats. Of course this is reflected in my
work, as I love Armenian culture; I have Armenian songs and people
in Russia like them. For example, a duet with Dmitry Pevtsov, when
we sang the Russian Cossack folk song "Oh You, Wide Steppe" and the
Armenian folk song "Dle Yaman."
Thanks to this song we became the anchors of the Two Stars TV project.
We like to sing the song at various concerts.
- Do you visit the Caucasus often?
- I visit Armenia, but only on business trips, as all my relatives
live in Russia today. Last time I was in Armenia was on Yerevan
Day. It was a great festival on the main square of Yerevan. I haven't
been to Georgia and Azerbaijan yet, but I would like to visit these
wonderful countries.
- Have you ever been to the North Caucasus?
- I have recently visited Chechnya; it was City Day. People welcomed
me warmly. They are very hospitable. Later we sang in Abkhazia. We
will soon visit Dagestan, as they've invited us for solo concerts.
- Have you been to Sochi?
- I perform solo concerts often in Sochi. I have participated in
musical contests in Sochi and so on.
- What do you think about Sochi after the Olympics?
- I liked it so much. It is a very clean European city. I think
the Olympics have made the residents feel self-confident. I think
our country will be proud of the event for a great many generations.
- Do you think music, culture and art can contribute to pan-national
peace in Russia and the CIS countries?
- Music unites people; it has no nationality. Music is a human soul
which is pure. Of course we should appreciate folk music, as popular
music and popular songs are the children of folk music. It should be
understood, developed and preserved for future generations.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/culture/55762.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 28 2014
28 May 2014 - 10:14am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Music fans know her as the singer Zara and a participant in TV
projects; music fans who are interested in politics know her as Zarifa
Mgoyan, the former wife of the son of the former governor of St.
Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko. It is believed that Zara was raised
in eastern traditions and is a very unsociable person. However,
she was open with Vestnik Kavkaza.
- Zara, tell us about your roots.
- I am a Kurd, but I was born in Armenia. My mother was born in
Leninakan, my father in Yerevan. I have an Armenian surname. Of course
many Kurds got assimilated, so Armenian blood runs in us. My childhood
took place in Leninakan. I remember the holiday of Vardavar, when we
all showered with water; I remember that my mother took me to a market
and all the traders gave me treats. Of course this is reflected in my
work, as I love Armenian culture; I have Armenian songs and people
in Russia like them. For example, a duet with Dmitry Pevtsov, when
we sang the Russian Cossack folk song "Oh You, Wide Steppe" and the
Armenian folk song "Dle Yaman."
Thanks to this song we became the anchors of the Two Stars TV project.
We like to sing the song at various concerts.
- Do you visit the Caucasus often?
- I visit Armenia, but only on business trips, as all my relatives
live in Russia today. Last time I was in Armenia was on Yerevan
Day. It was a great festival on the main square of Yerevan. I haven't
been to Georgia and Azerbaijan yet, but I would like to visit these
wonderful countries.
- Have you ever been to the North Caucasus?
- I have recently visited Chechnya; it was City Day. People welcomed
me warmly. They are very hospitable. Later we sang in Abkhazia. We
will soon visit Dagestan, as they've invited us for solo concerts.
- Have you been to Sochi?
- I perform solo concerts often in Sochi. I have participated in
musical contests in Sochi and so on.
- What do you think about Sochi after the Olympics?
- I liked it so much. It is a very clean European city. I think
the Olympics have made the residents feel self-confident. I think
our country will be proud of the event for a great many generations.
- Do you think music, culture and art can contribute to pan-national
peace in Russia and the CIS countries?
- Music unites people; it has no nationality. Music is a human soul
which is pure. Of course we should appreciate folk music, as popular
music and popular songs are the children of folk music. It should be
understood, developed and preserved for future generations.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/culture/55762.html