YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Great composer, USSR People's Artist, laureate of state prizes of Armenia Arno Babajanian's 85th anniversary will be solemnly celebrated this year. As Robert Hakobian, Director of the "Arno Babajanian" fund's Armenian branch, informed at the January 20 press conference, jubilee events will be held not only in Armenia, but also in Russia and the U.S. According to him, probably, a concert dedicated to the composer will be also organized in Paris, within the framework of the Year of Armenia in France. According to R.Hakobian, nearly 25-30 mln drams (55-65 thousand USD) is necessary for organizing the events in Armenia but these sums must be still collected. RA government has allocated some resources, but according to R.Hakobian, the amount of the sum isn't known yet. Some benefactors have promised to give resources for the events to be held in Russia, according to preliminary data, they have promised 200-230 thousand USD. As RA People's Artist, composer Alaxander Haroutiunian emphasized, Arno Babajanian was a great composer and his 85th anniversary should be organized at a proper level. "Arno has immortalized his name with his talented creations and deserves honoring. His works are immortal and they will be performed very long," the composer highlighted. The Yerevan jubilee events will start in February, with the presentation of the book "Our Arno." A republican contest of young pianists will be held in April. "Arno Babajanian's Music" musical festival will be organized from May to July in all Armenian regions and Artsakh and "Arno Babajanian's Days in Yerevan" will be held on September 15-22. It's envisaged to release "A.Babajanian's Piano Works Performed by the Author" laser disk. A concert with participation of Russian and Italian singers will be held in autumn at Kremlin Congress Palace in Moscow. R.Hakobian also mentioned that there is a 640-sq.m. land plot near Parajanov's House-Museum where the "Arno Babajanian" fund is going to build a museum. According to him, at present the issue of allotting a land plot for this purpose is being discussed on a commission from Yerevan Mayor.

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