LODI, N.J. — Award-winning pop singer Sirusho brought her dazzling mix of contemporary and traditional music to the Felician College’s Breslin Theater on Saturday, March 17 at an event hosted by the Hamazkayin Armenian Education and Cultural Society New Jersey Chapter and Armenian Relief Society Agnouni Chapter.
The symbolic concert, which honored the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and 90th anniversary of Hamazkayin, gave Diasporans the opportunity to see Sirusho, a native of Armenia, perform live in the full-capacity event, which featured the Nayiri Dance Ensemble, under the leadership of director and choreographer Barkev Sanossian.
The performance went beyond the regular parameters of a concert as the well-seasoned Sirusho took her audience on an entertaining yet emotional journey, sharing behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of her music videos to her childhood years on the stage.
Singing the opening minutes of her performance a cappella, Sirusho displayed her impressive range and continued to do so during her 90-minute set as she sang songs from her recent “Armat” album, which features traditional Armenian folk songs with a modern Western spin, including Huh-Hah, Zartonk and Gini Lits as well as her previous hits PreGomesh, Shorora and Qele, Qele.
Representing a rejuvenated and modernized Armenia, Sirusho bridged all generations during her energetic performance, resulting in audience members dancing in a large shoorch bar in the theater. Her songs transcend generations as she pays homage to those before her while modernizing them with her own touch, making it accessible to current generations.
Highlights of the concert included footage of her Tariner duet with Harout Pamboukjian and a short film on her production team’s experience filming in Ani for her song Der Zor.
