*KARINE AVAGYAN*
There is no greater gift for an artist than the sincere love, applause and appreciation of that artist’s nation. One of those artists is Merited Artist of the Republic of Armenia Silva Yuzbashyan, who has been reciting the poems of great Armenian and foreign poets on stages in Armenia and abroad, on the radio and television for decades and has received numerous awards. Perhaps the secret of her success is first and foremost her brilliant image, as well as interesting individuality and ardent patriotism that has helped Silva Yuzbashyan live and help the people in her audiences live for decades. She has been lucky enough to not only recite the works of classic writers, but also befriend them, sit at a table with them, travel with them, listen to their interesting stories and witness their successes, failures and difficulties. In this sense, Silva Yuzbashyan has shared their feelings. The presentation of Sona Van’s book “Libretto for the Desert” at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute served as an occasion for the interview with the well-known and beloved Silva Yuzbashyan.
Hayern Aysor: Dear Silva, you have not only presented and continue to present the poems of the greats, but also continue to comment on well-known Armenian writers on social networks, posting wonderful pictures presenting the stories of Hamo Sahyan, Paruyr Sevak, Silva Kaputikyan, Hovhannes Shiraz, Vahagn Davtyan, William Saroyan and others, hosting radio programs and reciting at different events (you are also a great friend of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and actively participate in the events of the ministry). You also travel abroad. Isn’t it hard for you, especially since our greats are no longer with us? Do you have enough time?
Silva Yuzbashyan: It’s obvious that the greats are not with us physically. There is a gap, and it’s hard to fill that gap, but they left their works. They don’t exist, but the poems are great. Our greats are my confessors. For many years now, I have recited and continue to recite the works of classic poets with pleasure. I have also followed modern poetry and have presented the best poems. Today, there is a modern and very unique poet by the name of Sona Van. I must say that I am not very much in favor of the descriptive words “brilliant” and “talented”. For me, a poet is either a poet or isn’t a poet. Sona is a poet whom I noticed 15 years ago when I was hosted by the Armenian community of America. At the time, Sona was not too famous and had only one booklet. I must also say that she was very modest. I thought writing as just an occupation for her, as it is for many poets. Sona gave me a package of her poems. I brought the package to Yerevan and didn’t open it for a long time. One day, I decided to read them and was amazed. I admired her. I took the poems to the local radio station and read them during a radio broadcast. I wasn’t wrong about Sona. She was discovered by book lovers, spectators and listeners in the Homeland.
Hayern Aysor: So, you were the one who revealed Sona Van’s poems…
- Y.: The one who revealed Sona Van’s poems…At the end of the day, what reveals a poet is his or her writing…Of course, her poems have been a part of my list of poems…Today, Sona is a beloved and well-known poet.
Hayern Aysor: Which works by writers (Eastern Armenian, Western Armenian, Diaspora Armenian) have you not recited?
- Y.: I have a radio program called “Poetry Hour”, and I have recited the works of almost all writers, not to mention my preferred works. There are many poetry events held in Yerevan, but I would like to see a program devoted to the poems of Narekatsi, Metsarents, Daniel Varoujan and poems of the Middle Age. Idolizing a certain poet is enough for people to forget the others. It seems as though there is business in poetry too, meaning people hear the names of the great poets (of course, the names of worthy greats) who can help gain more profits.
Hayern Aysor: How long have you been reciting on stage?
- Y.: I have never thought about that and have never recalled. It might be 10, 15 or 25 years…How long? Many mention it, right? It doesn’t matter to me. I hadn’t even thought of becoming a reciter and hadn’t even heard that there was such a profession that could help me earn a living and even make me popular. This is the art that I am “sentenced” to, it’s an endless love.
Hayern Aysor: Silva, do you agree with the views of many famous and unknown people who say that reciting is not right, that a person can sit at home and read and that there is no need to recite poems on stage? What do you have to say about that?
- Y.: In ancient times, we Armenians have had people who would play music in villages and hamlets with instruments or without them, sing the words of poems and share stories that have been passed down from one generation to the next. If it wasn’t for them, most of the great poems in Armenian poetry would be forgotten. Reciters are the heralds of written speech. Today I recited the works of Sona Van whom people hadn’t heard about. They started showing interest and asked Sona for her books. A reciter always reminds one of the writer’s works. Not everyone likes to read. Nowadays, many people listen.
Hayern Aysor: Silva, nowadays it has become sort of trendy to open acting studios, create clubs for reciting and other groups. Such groups are often led by people who consider themselves honorable and not too well-known experts in the field. Basically, business is thriving in this field as well. You have certainly established yourself in the field and are famous. Haven’t you ever thought of directing a reciting club and teaching children, teens and youth?
- Y.: You’re right, there are many people opening studios and creating clubs. People say I’m lazy to do that, but I simply want children to live as children, I want teens and youth to study, read a lot and have a good understanding of a poet’s works. Reciting requires one to be mature. After having recited on stages and on radio and television all these years, I don’t accept the way I recited some poems many years ago. I used to have a different perception of the poems of Charents many years ago. Later, when I was wiser, the works of Charents meant something totally different.
Hayern Aysor: Silva, you certainly could have lived and can now live abroad. I know that you have received many invitations. How is it that you haven’t been tempted like others?
- Y.: I have traveled a lot and have performed on many stages. I have performed 15 times in the US alone. Yes, there have been invitations, but I am very much clung to my land. If it concerns emigration, I won’t even be the last one to turn the lights off. I don’t have anything to do in any other country, not even in the US. That is the land of foreigners, but I don’t blame or judge anyone who leaves either…How can I leave and recite Hamo Sahyan’s poem “Akhr Yes Inchpes Ver Kenam Gnam…” (How can I get up and leave?) on stage? My home and my place is in Armenia. As the great William Saroyan once said during a meeting with children, ‘Armenia is the sweetest place of all places’.
Hayern Aysor: We often talk about and hear that Armenian culture and the arts thrived in the 1970s and up to the mid-1980s, but they are not thriving today. What would you say?
- Y.: Back then, the government would take care of that. Books weren’t published in 500 copies, but in 10,000 and more copies. There were many exhibitions at the Union of Artists, theater and cinema had the highest reputation, there was no place to sit at concert halls, and tickets were affordable. At the time, everything was spiritual. There was poetry and music, and all the values of art were appreciated. Even today when you pass by cultural centers, you will see many signs, but the fire that burned is missing.
Hayern Aysor: Dear Silva, continue the following phrase: When I say ‘Armenia’, I feel…
- Y.: Armenia is not merely a geographical territory for me. It is the land of symbols, sanctities and enigmas that God created. As Teryan said, it is a “bittersweet and sweet” homeland, our identity, our biography…
Hayern Aysor: Let’s end our interview with the lines of one of your favorite poems.
- Y.: “Don’t mix us with your wild tribes,
Our nation is destroyed, but it is sacred and old,
As our brilliant mountain has seen much snow,
Pain and bitterness are not new to us…
Many barbarians will come and go and will disappear,
Our royal language will remain forever.”
Hayernaysor.am
