One of the key tasks of the Russian-Armenian University is to introduce young people to important cultural values ​​that help them take pride in their outstanding compatriots, because not every nation can name such great figures known throughout the world among its children. This was stated  by Rector of the Russian-Armenian University, Doctor of Economics of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation Edward Sandoyan at a creative evening dedicated to composer Alexey Ekimyan on November 13.

"Today we are talking about the great cultural heritage that connects our peoples and preserves values ​​and traditions," noted Chair of the Department of Journalism Marina Alekyan.

The evening's guest of honor, the composer's son Mikhail Ekimyan, presented a documentary about the life and biography of his father. He said that the film was created in 2007 and tells the story of a man who went through a difficult and winding path.

"He managed to become an outstanding investigator, detective, and then a general, but at the same time left a mark in the history of art and music. Do not hide your talents, try to realize yourself. Try to outdo yourself and not go with the flow," Mikhail Ekimyan urged the students.

He added that his father passed away at the age of 54, being the youngest general of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. He received this title not in his office, but for years of service in the Criminal Investigation Department, where he was engaged in the capture of bandits and maniacs, hard and arduous work, despite which he managed to create music that brings light, goodness and love.

After the film screening, the honored guests of RAU told interesting facts about the life and work of the maestro and reminded the audience of the famous songs written by Ekimyan.

Ekimyan spent the last days of his life in the hospital. There Alexey Ekimyan called the author and host of music programs on the Mayak radio station, Lyudmila Dubovtseva. She was also among the honored guests of the evening today.

"I'm waiting for you, Lyuda, so that we can talk. "I have already asked to make a pass for you to the hospital," he said. For me it was  sheer happiness - just to come and talk to him. The next day, in the morning, Valentina Mikhailovna, the composer's wife, called and said: "Lyuda, Alyosha is gone." At that moment, it seemed that life had stopped, and tears involuntarily welled up in my eyes. When I digested this sad news a little, moments of our acquaintance began to emerge in my memory, like scenes from a forgotten film. For example, I remember interviewing Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina, a venerable singer of world renown. She told me: "You know, I have wonderful songs written by Alexey Ekimyan." Fortunately, I knew who she was talking about. She was surprised: "My God, I would never have believed that an Armenian could write such a Russian folk song," said Lyudmila Dubovtseva.

 

In her turn, the head of the creative industries department Nina Kevorkova recalled the words of the famous Soviet and Russian singer Joseph Kobzon: "Ekimyan will forever remain in the hearts of all the people who communicated with him." 

"He played the violin and at the same time caught criminals. Although he did not become a marshal, like many other famous Armenian military men, originally from Artsakh, he still achieved high ranks: he became a lieutenant general and such an outstanding composer that he can be equated to the rank of marshal," shared the director of the Institute of Media, Advertising and Cinema, writer Karen Markaryan. 

It should be noted that the event was organized by the RAU Department ofJournalism.

 

 

Translated by Angelina Zandiyan,    

I year Master’s Student in Translation & Interpretation, RAU