YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The artistic director of A. Spendiarian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Gegham Grigorian resigned from his post according to his application on January 1, 2008. The director of the theatre Kamo Hovhannisian told NT correspondent that the resignation of Gegham Grigorian is mainly motivated by his intention to found his own opera theatre in Yerevan. At the same time K. Hovhannisian denied the rumors that the RA deputy minister of culture Karine Khodikian has an ambition to assume the post of artistic director. The director of the theatre said that this post will be abolished and instead an artistic council will be created to be headed by him. To recap, during her final press conference in late 2007, the RA minister of culture Hasmik Poghosian severely criticized the opera "Davit Bek" staged by Gegham Grigorian.

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