Storytelling by Vergine Gulbenkian accompanied by Vahan Kerovpyan
For adults and children aged 9 and over 9 Clarendon Cross, Holland Park, London W11 Sunday 28th October at 7pm Refreshments served from 6.15pm onwards Suggested contribution (towards expenses): £6 Students £3
A magical piece from the hearthside traditions of Armenia
Few performances have the quality to touch so deeply one’s soul and give such a strong sense of wholeness. Each gesture was inhabited, full of meaning, and spoke by itself. Each word uttered was heartfelt.
Moment by moment, imperceptibly gently, all senses were awakened to life: through a careful weaving of stories one was invited to sense and perceive a variety of feelings, emotions, scenery, colours, fragrances, touches, voices, songs and sounds. In an extraordinarily delicate way one’s heart was touched by the wish and search of each character: ‘From where? To where?’ This is truly pure poetry.
Monica Ube
Vergine Gulbenkian has been studying and practicing the craft of story-telling since1991. She has conducted research into Armenian storytelling in Armenia and in the British diaspora.
She has performed traditional tales and epics in venues which include the Barbican Pit, the South Bank Centre, the Battersea Arts Centre, Festival at the Edge and Beyond the Border storytelling festivals and extensively in museums, schools and storytelling clubs around Britain. Armenian folk songs are an integral part of her performances.
She is currently working on a translation of an Armenian love-epic and developing education programmes involving storytelling with museums in Oxford.
Vahan Kerovpyan is coming from Paris specially for this performance. He plays piano, and has been in a rock band for two years. He started playing drums at an early age, studying the Zarb with Madjid Khaladj for five years. He participated in the recording of “Full Bloom”, a CD produced by L'Ecole de Tombak, directed by Madjid Khaladj.
He sings with AKN, an Armenian liturgical choir, directed by Aram Kerovpyan and with them has participated in the recording of four CD's. Since 2003 he has been a member of Kotchnak Armenian folk music ensemble. He has also been involved with a contemporary music project, directed by composer Gilles Mardirossian since 2006.
