Director Suren Ter-Grigoryan

What changes has the State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia, one of the oldest jazz collectives of the Soviet Union, undergone? Are young people who want to choose jazz as a career materially motivated? Under what conditions was the jazz band's new CD "We and We" recorded? The artistic director and conductor of the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra, saxophonist Armen Hyusnunts is hosted in "Artfocus". Anahit Margaryan conducts the conversation.

What is national repentance, when is it needed? How does repentance change a Christian's life? Where does the word repentance come from? His Eminence Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan speaks about the sacrament of repentance.

What is repentance, why is it important especially during the Great Lent, is fasting necessary, is there salvation without repentance, what sins can be repented of, how does the recompense take place?  Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan speaks about the sacrament of Repentance.

Four bright personalities united their creative energy and one of the most unique bands of Armenian rock music was born - the ethnic-progressive rock-metal band "Dogma". On February 28, the group's 15th anniversary was celebrated with a concert at the Puppet Theater.  Vardan Grigoryan, the president of the Armenian Rock Association, the bassist of the "Dogma" group, and Zara Gevorgyan, a soloist, singer, and author of texts are in the "Artfocus". Anahit Margaryan conducts the conversation.

Why have jazz festivals and jazz clubs declined?  Are untrained jazzmen competitive? How often does Jazz go to the region? What do the Russian jazzmen immigrated to Armenia do? Double bass player, composer Davit Geodakyan and saxophonist, arranger Davit Melkonyan talk in "Artfocus".  Anahit Margaryan conducts the conversation.

After the 2020 war, under the direction of the Patriarch of All Armenians, the "Office for the Protection of the Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of Artsakh" was established in the Mother See, which is active in raising the issues of protection and preservation of Artsakh's cultural heritage. Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of Artsakh spiritual and cultural heritage preservation office spoke about the activities of the office, the fate of thousands of historical, cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh under the military control of Azerbaijan. Anahit Margaryan moderated the conversation.

On January 25, the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia celebrated its 17th anniversary with a concert. Artistic director and chief conductor of the orchestra, Sergey Smbatyan, is the guest of "Artfocus".  Anahit Margaryan conducts the conversation.

Do we still believe today that art is one of the ways to God? Why does the church create secular art museums? Rev. Fr. Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of  Museums and Archives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, spoke in the "Artfocus" pavillion about the activities of the museums of the Mother See, the most important achievements of the last years. 

Anahit Margaryan moderated the conversation.

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On January 6, in the "Aram Khachatryan" concert hall, with the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the "Armenian Holy Nativity" spiritual-classical concert took place, on the occasion of which the Israeli pianist and conductor Vahagn Papyan arrived in Yerevan. The musician was a guest on "Artfocus".  Anahit Margaryan moderated the conversation.

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"Gafesjian" art center is hosting the exhibition entitled "Beginning, End, Beginning" by Karen Petrosyan. Canadian artist Karen Petrosyan has been studying the relationship between man and nature in biological, philosophical, cosmic, metaphysical and other dimensions for several decades. The artist and sculptor Karen Petrosyan,  and the curator of the exhibition, director of exhibitions of the "Gafesjian" art center, art critic Armen Yesayants are in "Artfocus". Anahit Margaryan conducts the conversation.

Next, cultural news.