Krikor Partamian The Art Lover - Part 3
Young Partamian who spoke seven languages, joined Cairo Opera House early and became one of the prominent singers as he sang at the wedding of King Farouk I and Queen Narriman in 1951. Also, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of AGBU, in the presence of His Holiness Catholicos Vasken 1st, who was visiting Cairo, he and Anna Neshanian sang solos.
The above is the tip of the iceberg as he joined the two shows of Opera Aida in Luxor, sang Carmina Burana with choral around the 50s to its creator Carl Orff, and sang in Ramsis Armenian church and St. Joseph downtown Church.
His relationship with opera was not limited only to work, he also hosted Italian maestros and tenors at his home.
Life is not always fair as usual, he witnessed the Opera House fire, which was opened on November 1, 1869, and was marred by a major fire on October 28, 1971. It was considered the first opera house in Africa and the Middle East.
Global artistic tours
Partamian's fame extended outside the Egyptian country, as he met the famous Soviet Armenian musician Aram Khachaturian, who composed musical pieces highlighting the depth of friendship between Egypt and the Soviet Union. He was also honoured in Armenia in the company of Norair Deuvletian.
Besides, he performed a singing and theatrical concert for the Armenian community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1967. Also, he travelled to Iran to sign famous Armenian singer Manuel Menengichian for a concert in the Armenian New Year Reveillon.
During one of his artistic tours, Partamian almost got killed by militias in Lebanon, in 1976, on his way to Germany for Miss Paris.
There is still more to talk about.
