Blog Archives

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – St. Pete Opera is staging, Semele, Handel’s glorious music and story of unbridled love, jealousy, and revenge, with an an energetic modern makeover. The opera features Australian-Armenian opera singer Christopher Nazarian, in the role of Cadmus.

Semele, the latest mortal dalliance of Jupiter, becomes convinced that she won’t be happy until she is made immortal. Opposing her plan is Juno, Jupiter’s long-suffering wife, who schemes Semele’s downfall.

Handel’s brilliant English opera, set to a comic libretto by Restoration poet William Congreve, shows a full range of innocent love, nearly unchecked libido, jealous rage, ambition, regret and triumph.

The score includes such familiar favorites as “Where e’er you walk,” “Iris, hence away!” and “Myself I shall adore.”

The cast features:

Semele – Holly Flack
Jupiter – Kyle Tomlin
Juno – Sara Couden
Cadmus – Christopher Nazarian
Athamas – Ryan Belongie
Iris – Stephanie Jabre

The play is sponsored by, Bud & Betty Shapiro. It will be sung in English with English text above the stage.

The play runs on February 4th, 6th & 8th at The Palladium Theater, 253 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For tickets, click here or call the box office at 727-823-2040.

Posted in Arts & Culture, Events, General Update

Florida Armenians Congratulate Arman Avedyan

Boca Raton, FL – On Sunday, July 23, Florida Armenians gathered at St. David Armenian Church to congratulate Sub-Deacon Arman Avedyan on his acceptance to Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia. During this four-year program, Avedyan will train his voice and master the language of music, while embarking on new adventures and a new life in the homeland.

Like many of his friends in south Florida’s growing Armenian-American community, Avedyan started serving God and fellow parishioners at the age of 14. Beginning as an Acolyte on the altar under the guidance of Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. David Armenian Church, Avedyan began to develop and display his talents, delivering powerful and uplifting renditions of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Badark (Divine Liturgy).

Arman Avedyan (center-left) with family

“In January 2012, at my 20th Anniversary banquet in Mardigian Hall of St. David Armenian Church, Arman Avedyan sang “Nessun Dorma” which is an aria from the final act of Puccini’s opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera,” stated Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian. “It was then that I realized he would be a wonderful candidate for the Yerevan Conservatory. Since that time, all efforts to admit him to the conservatory have succeeded, and I am extremely pleased to see the fruition of all the many years of work in the Deacon’s Training Program at St. David Church have such an exciting result for him. I am very proud of his accomplishment and am confident he will work hard in continuing his education and nurturing his career at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia, and look forward to his success in the future,” stated Fr. Nareg.

Still early in his career, Arman Avedyan has already performed at Florida Atlantic University, Florida Suncoast Opera Guild, Lynn University and various Armenian-American community events throughout Florida. “Years of preliminary training, practice and performances have lead to the opportunity of a lifetime,” Avedyan told FLArmenians. “I cannot wait to begin my studies. This really is a dream come true,” Avedyan said.

Below is Arman Avedyan’s recital of “e lucevan le stelle” Tosca, Puccini, at Lynn University in Boca Raton.