Armenia’s President congratulates Artur Meschian on his 65th anniversary

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS: Today, the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a telephone conversation with architect, musician Artur Meschian and congratulated him on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary.

The Department of Mass Media and Public Relations of the President’s Staff of the Republic of Armenia informed Armenpress that Serzh Sargsyan highly appreciated the work activity of the talented intellectual, wished him good health and creative new success.

Many still hold memories of live recordings of Meschian and “Apostles” in the late 60′s and 70′s recorded on boom-boxes. They began as three architecture students at Yerevan Institute of Technology — the “Apostles” quickly rose to become the voice of a generation. Amalgamating Armenian gospel with rock rhythms, the band left an unforgettable impression on their audience. Those were the times of suppression and Soviet censorship. The voices of the “Apostles”, like many in that era, were heavily muffled and even banned. Yet repetitive attempts of the governing powers to ban or sabotage the band’s concerts by shutting down the electricity, or blocking entrances of the concert venues, were in vain. Some still remember the candlelit concerts where Arthur’s voice soared over his acoustic guitar and reached every person in the back row clear as day. Nor will they ever forget the sight of thousands of students breaking though police barricades to get into concert halls where the “Apostles” were performing.

None of the details of the “Apostles’” disappearance from the scene in the late 70′s ever became public. The void that followed was being filled by quickly emerging singer/songwriters trying to recreate what was lost. Then in 1984 Meschian emerged on his own with a new lineup. The lineup included two of his protégés – Vahan Artsruni and Gourgen Melikian. This marked the beginning of Meschian’s flourishing musical career.

Meschian’s charisma won the attention of a number of Armenian film makers. Meschian was hounded with multiple offers to appear in films. He continuously declined every single offer that came his way. Then in 1980, film director Rouben Kevorkiants made him an offer he could not refuse. Kevorkiants was preparing to shoot a film about the life of the great Armenian poet Michael Nalbandian. He promised Meschian full creative control over the music if he would agree to appear in the lead role as Michael Nalbandian. Meschian agreed. This was his first and last opportunity to professionally record his music while still living in Soviet Armenia. The film included three instrumental pieces and the song “Ancient Land” (Yerkir Hnamya), written especially for the film.

In 1989 Arthur moved to the US, seeking opportunity to record and document twenty years of musical work. He settled in Watertown Massachusetts, blissfully unaware that he had an amazing fan base abroad. It would not be long before he would appear on concert stages throughout the US and in 1990 released First album, appropriately named “Catharsis.” What began as an end to twenty years of work marked the beginning of a new musical and creative journey.

In 1996 another controversial body of work was released. “Communion” raised questions many of us would not dare to ask and a gut ranching prayer for the betterment of men kind. It too found a place in an entire second half of concerts that followed.

In December of 2001, his four volume box-set was released. Aside from two new songs, it included four CD’s complete with every piece of work that Arthur ever recorded. 2001 also marked his so called “RETIREMENT” from stage which would soon be proven false.

As early as 2003 Arthur headlined a bill at the famed Kodak Theater, and as many predicted sold it out. Then in 2005 he lived up to his original promise and returned to Armenia for good. While in “retirement” he managed to embark on a countrywide tour which also included a performance at MMDM in Moscow. The tour which spanned two years was captured on two audio releases and was surrounded by a multitude of TV interviews.

2009 Tour includes Moskow two Concerts at MMDM hall, Yerevan Concerts at Opera House and Hamalir, and Passadena -California-USA at the Civic Auditorium

No matter what the next chapter of Arthur Meschian’s biography brings, it will always have an unwavering point of view, an impeccable work ethic, and a clear orientation towards the present and the future.