Interview with Nune
by Paul Chaderjian AIM Magazine April, 1998 Yerevan, Armenia - Out of the darkness comes a flash of white, and from an enormous cloud of fog descends a figure dressed in a white robe of ancient royalty, a slender, long-haired modern-day minstrel taking the stage by storm. The concert hall fills with applause as Nune Yesayan begins to belt out traditional songs set to an untraditional and contemporary beat. It’s a sold-out performance at the Opera House in Yerevan; Nune has made her return after a two-year absence. The duduk and zurna provide the background. Male dancers in costume encircle the songstress while they move in unison shoulder-to-shoulder in a dance choreographed hundreds of years ago. On both sides of the stage, angelic, petite young women caress the air with the familiar feminine movements of hands and fingers. At center stage, Nune sounds the call for a return to the homeland with a passionate rendition of "Kele Lao." She sings the praises of hardworking villag...