National Hope, Lament and the Path to Peace

On April 22nd, I attended a concert of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the extraordinary Canadian soprano of Armenian heritage, Isabel Bayrakdarian.  She appeared with her husband, Serouj Kradjian on piano and a number of musicians who had travelled from Armenia. The music director of the TSO, Peter Oundjian is also of Armenian heritage. 

Moving folks songs of Gomidas were performed and a portion of the soundtrack of the film, "Ararat".  The film's director, Atom Egoyan was also present.  The majority of the audience were Armenians as well. 

It made for an emotionally-charged evening.  What can answer an experience of annihilation?  Well nothing really seems proportionate.  To sing a lament will not do it. 

And yet grace appears.  Life and goodness are with us.  The sheer beauty of Ms. Bayrakdarian's voice carried us into a new space.  In the soundtrack music, her voice rose up (Armenian liturgical music I think). 

Music gives us access to hope. It speaks another language that more easily transcends our conscious thoughts.  We loose ourselves of words and can perceive the goodness we might otherwise fail to observe.