YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. The Geghard Choir was on tour in Austria and Germany July 27-August 6.

The July 27 concert in Austria – organized by the Armenian Embassy – was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenian independence.

Many public and cultural figures, clergy, musicians and the Armenian community were present at the concert,

The culmination of the tour was on July 31 in the Salzburger Festspiele, where the Choir presented Armenian spiritual music.

The program included medieval monodies with solo and group performances.

The Choir also performed Armenian classical and modern music, from Mesrop Mashtots to Komitas and contemporary Yervand Yerkanyan and Daniel Yerajisht.

This was the first participation in the festival by an Armenian musical group.

Critics praised the performance of Geghard Choir.

The Choir later performed in Rastatt, Germany.

The performance in Speyer Dom is especially noteworthy. Initially the concert was scheduled to be held in the tomb of German kings of the Church, but due to unprecedented large number of audiences the security personnel changed the venue and the concert was held in the large hall of the Church.