NEW YORK — A rocking concert under a starlit sky wowed a sell-out crowd of more than 200 on Diocesan Plaza on Thursday, September 7. The Huyser Music Ensemble of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral brought the audience to their feet cheering and clapping several times with their songs of love, desire and nationalism sung in Armenian, and performed by a band of six professional musicians and singers.
More than an hour before the start of the open-air concert, people had already lined up outside the Plaza anxiously waiting to grab their seats. The event was organized and hosted by St. Vartan Cathedral and Cathedral Dean Very Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian. It was titled “Our Mission, Creating the New while Preserving the Old.”
Even before the performers took to the outside steps of the Cathedral which were dramatically lighted by flares, and dancing colored configurations on the Cathedral entrance, some attendees could be heard humming and singing a few of the well-known Huyser favorites. Many were also seen greeting each other since they apparently had enjoyed other Huyser concerts in the Tri-state area.
With the excitement mounting, deafening applause and cheering greeted the performers with each number. One of the first folk songs, a joyous rendition of Tamzara, featuring the whole troupe, inspired several in the audience to spontaneously jump up and dance, with the audience loudly clapping. This was repeated again and again with other songs.
Two romantic numbers had the audience dreamily singing along. Chooni Ashkharuh Kezi Nman (None Like you in the World) by Razmik Amyan, was sung with heartfelt emotion by Maria Barsoumian, who also shared with great passion the deeply moving Haverj Ser (Eternal Love) by Georges Garvarentz and Charles Aznavour.
The feelings of romance continued with Diran Jebejian singing with great sensitivity the poignant Siro Yerk (Song of Love) by Arno Babajanyan and Vahan Haroutiunian, as well as the well-known lyrical folk song Sari Aghchig (Mountain Girl).
