At the invitation of the Regional Executive Board of Hamazkayin Lebanon, the Armenian singer Sibil from Istanbul gave a concert at "Emil Lahut" Concert Hall of Beirut on Friday, November 4, 2016. The Hamazkayin's "Gargach" choir and dancers from "Gayane" dance school participated in the concert.
Tamar Snabian-Surchian welcomed the audience and delivered the opening speech. She said that the concert organized by the Hamazkayin Regional Executive Board was really a unique initiative, which, after so many decades, built a cultural bridge of communication with Istanbul. "Istanbul, with its rich cultural heritage, has been an integral part of our collective memory". She also added that Sibil’s unique vocal talent and her charming voice would certainly stay in our hearts. Tamar Snabian-Surchian also presented the lyrics of Sibil's songs. They are the poems of Western and Eastern Armenian great poets, as well as the contemporary ones. The authors of music and musical arrangements of the songs are mostly young musicians. At the end of her speech, Tamar Snabian-Surchian thanked the heads of "Gayane" dance school Karen and Jacqueline Makinians, director of "Cackle" children's choir, Maestro Zakar Keshishian, the family of ″Kohar″ Ensemble, Mr. and Mrs. Baljians, the Armenian MP Representative Office, the administration of Hamazkayin "Vahe Sethian" Publishing House, which spared no effort for the success of the event.
Sibil welcomed the audience and said, "I had been looking forward to this meeting with you. It does not matter how scattered the Armenians are over the world, our hearts throb together, we are the same with our culture, wonderful language and blood."
