Armen Babakhanian has participated in presentation of CDs produced by Hamazkayin West USA Music Committee

“EXPRESSIA” PROJECT (JOINT EXHIBITIONS OF PAINTINGS BY SVETLANA HAKOBYAN AND CONCERTS OF THE “CADENCE” ENSEMBLE IN PARIS, LONDON AND BRUSSELS) 12 October – 02 November 2007 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT The project was called “Expressia” due to two works of art: “Expressia” Tango created by composer Narine Zarifyan at the beginning of 2007 for the “Cadence” Ensemble and dedicated to painter Svetlana Hakobyan, as well as due to the picture of the same name, painted in oils by Svetlana Hakobyan under impression of the tango premiered by the “Cadence” Ensemble on January 11, 2007 at the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. The painting “Expressia” was exhibited for the first time in September 2007. The “Expressia” Project represented combination of exhibitions of Svetlana Hakobyan’s paintings and concerts of the “Cadence” Ensemble taken place in the capitals of France, the UK and Belgium. The harmony of distinctive works of the painter and the virtuoso performances by the ensemble of the splendid Armenian and foreign composers’ masterpieces were a wonderful display of the fine and performing arts high level existing in contemporary Armenia. The opening of the art exhibitions were accompanied by performances of the ensemble and during the concerts given by the ensemble in prestigious concert halls of Paris, London and Brussels some paintings of S. Hakobyan were exhibited on the venues’ stages and foyers as well. The important part of the project was recording of “The Expressia” two albums by the Cadence Ensemble at the Abbey Road studio (EMI) in London. The recording was executed by the Richmond Studios in October 2007. The album will be produced by the Signum Records, well known solid British label. International distribution of the “Expressia” two albums will start in March-April 2008. Another part of the project was participation in it of the Armenian National TV First Channel’s film crew which accompanied Svetlana Hakobyan and the “Cadence” Ensemble during their tour in the three European capitals for the preparation of several TV programs and documentary films elucidating the project process. DATES AND VENUES OF THE EXHIBITIONS AND CONCERTS The concerts of the Cadence Ensemble took place at the “Salle Cortot” (October 13,Paris), Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (October 26, London) and at the concert hall “Espace Senghor” (October 31, Brussels). THE RPOJECT’S ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS The organizers of the project were the “DAR” Foundation and “Cadence” Music Centre. The partners were London and Paris chapters of the “Hamazkayin” Armenian Cultural and Educational Society, Pushkin House (UK), Achdjian Gallery (France), G2iA Groupement Interprofessionell International Armenian (France), Arax asbl (Belgium) and Chambre de Commerce Belgique-Armenienne (Belgium). The exhibitions and concerts were organized under the high patronage of the embassies of Armenia in France, the United Kingdom and Belgium. Participants of the project were Svetlana Hakobyan and the “Cadence” Ensemble. Information and interpretation on the project implementation process were presented by the Armenian National TV First Channel. The recording of the “Expressia” two albums of the “Cadence” Ensemble was realized by the Richmond Studios and personally its founder and director Toby Alington at the Abbey Road Studio (EMI). The famous “Signum Records” will produce the “Expressia” album and start its world-wide sale in March-April 2008 through its wide international distributors network.