“Aran papd e… davatchan”. Opera Theatre Opposes Nazeni Gharibyan

On May 27, a meeting of the working collective was held at the A. Spendiarian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, in which members of the theater’s management council participated, reported Aravot.am.

The collective members were curious about how the president of the management council, Nazeni Gharibyan, who is also the acting minister, was elected when the collective was opposed to her. Two members of the management council, Perch Karazyan and Sergey Safaryan, are from the opera theater. They assured that Ms. Gharibyan was elected as a result of an objective vote.

Hrayr Arzumanyan stated, “Four members of the management council are from the ministry; no matter how our representatives voted, the outcome would not have changed.” Sergey Safaryan added, “The council of the theater should prioritize the interests of the theater, rather than put the theater to the test.”

Perch Karazyan noted that they are well aware of the theater's problems and assured that Nazeni Gharibyan was elected unanimously. “Nazeni Gharibyan is the most influential person in the council, who has daily contact with the government and represents culture to the government. Being elected president is a significant responsibility, she will quickly bring our theater's problems to the government.”

In response, a commotion arose in the hall, with cries from the audience: “You sold Orbelyan!” Conductor Hrayr Arzumanyan also mentioned that thanks to Nazeni Gharibyan, they staged their seven premieres without state support.

Levon Javadyan, head of the Youth Program at the A. Spendiarian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, stated that they elected Nazeni Gharibyan as the council president, but legislation does not require her to be a minister. He proposed a vote on who is in favor and who is against Nazeni Gharibyan being the president of the management council, and a substantial majority voted against.

Levon Javadyan suggested withdrawing their representatives from the council and conducting new elections, also proposing to express a lack of confidence in the council. Hrayr Arzumanyan expressed confusion as to why the council did not inform the director about the meeting.

One of the employees expressed surprise that previously the council held meetings in the theater building, but this time it was not so. Perch Karazyan was answering questions directed at him from the audience, sometimes responding rudely: “Don’t talk about Aray, he is your grandfather.”

Full text available on Aravot.am.