YEREVAN, MAY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no proper attention towards the classic music in Armenia, the most part of the society prefers now pop music what is a result of bad propaganda of the classic art. Conductor Eduard Topchian, the artistic head of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia expressed such a viewpoint at the May 9 press conference. The conductor is sure that today's talented musicians presenting the classic art are specialists got education still during the Soviet period of time who keep the former traditions and are famous with their singing art on the international scene as well. In the conductor's words, propaganda of the classic music must start first of all from the family, by sowing in the child love towards that art with the help of education at the youthful age, and propaganda among the society must be carried out through the television as well. At the same time, Ed. Topchian expressed satisfaction on the occasion of broadcasts dedicated to the classic music having fine taste by a series of TV channels. "The created situation will be settled only at the state level. I prepare to address with that issue to RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian for we are able to keep the values we have owing to its attention and assistance," Ed. Topchian stated. He mentioned that the 120-person orchestra headed by him today has great successes in many European countries and has wonderful concerts on famous scenes of the world. "Whereas, our task today is the attention expected towards orchestras, choirs wonderfully performing in our country and formation of a high-quality singing art," he mentioned. Ed. Topchian also touched upon the low salaries of musicians, mentioning that only 25 thousand drams are monthly allocated from the state budget to one musician of the philharmonic orchestra. The Armenian General Benevolent Union, in the person of Louise Simone Manoogian, has sponsored the orchestra already for 16 years. In his opinion, the musician's minimum salary must be money equivalent to about 600 U.S. dollars for he is able to care his everyday expenses. Speaking about his attitude towards the coming parliamentary elections and supporting this or that political force, Ed. Topchian mentioned that "he is not interested in policy as his mission is to be engaged in music." The young conductor does not accept cultural figures' "being engaged in the policy" either. "Everybody must be engaged in his affair: people creating culture must not present themselves at propaganda campaigns and become partisans how much beneficial and profitable it is for their work," he emphasized. The musician also added that the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia will soon have two big concerts in Austria because of which he will not be able to participate in the May 12 NA elections.

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