YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. The 13th International Khachatryan Competition will kick off June 6. This year, it will be held in the ‘vocal’ category for the first time.

43 musicians from 13 countries will participate in the competition’s first stage.

Konstantin Orbelyan, artistic director of the Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet national academic theater, is the president of the jury.

High class musicians are included in the jury.

Renowned musicologist Richard Rodzinski (USA) is among the jury. Rodzinski was the artistic director of San Francisco’s Opera Theater, as well as the artistic director of the New York Met.

Rodzinksi mentioned that the Khachatryan competition stands out with the involvement of numerous participants from many countries of various specializations in music and the selection of internationally reputable experts in the jury.

“Moreover, it deserves praise in several specialties, including holding the competition for conducting. There are few competitions of conducting in the world”, he told ARMENPRESS.

According to him, Armenia has a long and distinguished history of educating internationally renowned singers.

“I personally had the honor to work with Ara Berberian and Edna Karapetyan in San Francisco’s Opera Theater, with Lusine Amara in the Metropolitan Opera and with Lili Chukasyan in two world festivals in Italy’s Spoleto. I hope that both Armenian singers and representatives of other countries will have good performances in the Khachatryan competition. The competition has already been held in the piano, violin, cello and conducting categories. I expect to witness highest standards and professionalism this year”, he said.

Asked what he will asses first of all in the singers, he said he seeks the ability to understand the music and the text and communicate in music.

“Naturally attention must be paid to the quality of voice, how it sounds, intonation, language, accent, stage acting etc”, he said.

In his words, today’s audience wants a “complete package”, i.e. voice, authentic acting, interaction skills and looks.

The Khachatryan International Competition is held under the patronage of First Lady Rita Sargsyan.

It is organized by the Aram Khachatryan Competition cultural foundation, the culture ministry and the Yerevan State Conservatory.