In the spring of 2004, Canadian soprano
Isabel Bayrakdarian travelled for the first time to Armenia,
her ancestral homeland. Canada's Stormy Nights Productions
followed her on that emotional journey, capturing one of the
great voices of our time, in performance and reflection, against
the backdrop of Armenia's mystical landscape.
Isabel Bayrakdarian: A Long Journey Home premieres as the
second part of CBC-TV’s OPENING NIGHT, Thursday, January
19, 2006, approx. 8:50 p.m. (9:20 NT). OPENING NIGHT begins
8 p.m., 8:30 NT.
Beautifully filmed, with exquisite sound, the documentary
follows Bayrakdarian as she explores Armenia's rich tradition
of sacred music and prepares for a performance with the
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Her journey takes her from Yerevan, the modern capital,
along an ancient silk road to churches and ruins tucked
away in Armenia's remote mountain regions. Here in the world's
oldest Christian nation, where the churches date back to
the fourth century, Bayrakdarian’s voice, the delicate
sound of a children’s choir and the haunting tones
of an adult choir rise to fill the darkened interiors.
In the ruins of a pagan temple, Bayrakdarian performs the
folksongs of Komitas, the composer who brought a renaissance
to Armenian music at the turn of the 20th century. Accompanying
her is the Minassyan Duduk Quartet, masters of the instrument
that so eloquently conveys the soul of the Armenian people.
Other guest artists include the Tatev Children’s Choir,
the Yerevan Chamber Choir, the celebrated Komitas String
Quartet, the world’s oldest string quartet, and pianist
Serouj Kradjian, who also arranged much of the music in
the show.
Throughout the film, Bayrakdarian doesn't hesitate to share
her own observations, whether she's being honoured by the
country's political and cultural elite, sampling a local
market, or visiting the tomb of a much-revered saint.
A Long Journey Home concludes with Bayrakdarian’s
debut concert with the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edvard Topchian.
On April 28, 2004, in a press release by Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II , Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed Isabel Bayrakdarian
to the headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church and
gave his Pontifical blessing to her and expressed his appreciation
to her for beautifully and expertly introducing Armenian
Church hymns and melodies to an entirely new audience in
many countries throughout the world. The Pontiff of All
Armenians noted, “it is a pleasure to meet a distinguished
young Armenian who has come to her Motherland to express
her love and devotion to Armenia and to the Armenian Church,
and her spiritual center – the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin. Your talent, labors, and zealous pursuits contribute
and benefit to the good name of our people and nation, and
we are proud of you and your achievements”.
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