NY for NY Countdown: Spartacusian Spectacular
By Paul Chaderjian
May 20, 2002
(Yerevan) - The largest group of artists assembled in Armenia this year are spending long hours in preparation for what organizers are calling 'a Spartacusian Spectacular.' This extraordinary concert, called "NY for NY", is creation of Armenia's most popular entertainer, Nune Yesayan, and it will be dedicated to the memory of the victims of the attacks against the US last September.
Yesayan has hired nearly 150 actors, dancers and singers, who are now in rehearsal to master their roles, learn their choreography, speak their lines, sings their songs and sound their instruments in unison, like a finely tuned philharmonic of 150 voices. Together, with the help of nearly 50 technicians, audio specialists, stage managers and stage hands, these artists in their prime will create a world of magic, music, dance and drama.
"NY for NY"(Nune Yesayan for New York) will take place on Friday and Saturday nights, May 24th and May 25th at the Hamalir Sports-Concert Complex at Tsitsernakaberd Park in Yerevan. The theme of these two grand productions is of a heroine saving life, of women taking up arms, physical, emotional and mental, becoming stronger and helping make the world a better place and preserve freedom, harmony and all that is beautiful in the universe.
"What I want to communicate to Americans and the citizens of our small world is that Armenia will never forget the horrors at the World Trade Center," said Yesayan. "As this show plays out, our entire country will unite with the City of New York and with our brothers and sisters around the world. Why? Because, we know what it's like to lose tens of thousands in a huge, unimaginable and unexpected tragedy. We want to show our solidarity with the U.S. and send our love and support to the families of those whose lives were taken by the terrorists."
The story of the "NY for NY" musical begins when barbarous enemies attack a castle in ancient Armenia. The enemies threaten the villager's freedom, try to erase their culture, people and their kingdom. That's when the heroine of the show comes to life and takes action. She gives herself the responsibility, on behalf of her people, to not be a victim, not to be taken advantage of and to make a difference.
"After all," said Yesayan, "that's what is expected of each individual as we all try to make our world a better place. We all have a role to play, and our story's heroine decides to come to the defense of her people and of her country. She puts on the armor, meant for a man, and leads the heroic defense of her castle."
As the "NY for NY" musical comes to a close, the heroine makes a great effort and life-threatening decisions to chase the barbaric enemies away from the castle and away from her people. At the end, the heroine's people are saved, left once again to live in peace, to work, nurture once another, learn, teach, create, dance, celebrate, love and continue their ancient culture.
"So the heroine in this concert," said Yesayan, "comes to represent and becomes the embodiment of all Armenian women and men fighting against the enemy, be it another the threat of losing our culture, another nation, the white genocide, globalization or threats from across the border and across the seas."
Several dance groups will participate in the production. They include the most talented, most respected and the best known dancers in Armenia. One troupe that specializes in ballet will be traveling from Moscow to perform. Together these dancers will take the audience in a life motion picture of entertainment, motion, movement and leave them in awe.
Choreographing the production are two of the best in their field from Armenia, and one highly respected and well-known choreographer from Moscow. Together, months of hard work, planning and rehearsals will create a program that will forever live in the memory of those who attend.
To ensure the highest quality of sound, so that every single note of the musicians, every single beat of the drums and whisper of the dudug and other wind instruments are heard across the grand Hamalir, technicians will be using the best quality audio equipment available in Armenia.
"The composition and sound design," said Yesayan, " will move the audience to another time and another place, where song and dance magically take us where the greatest struggle between good and evil will play out on stage."
For those who are not able to attend the concerts in Yerevan, Yesayan has planned a number of appearances in North America in September, including a September 24th concert at the new Kodak Theater in Hollywood, where the Oscars are handed out.
