Six singers, one message: Love, peace, and unity – that’s what the Armenian entry in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, Face The Shadow, promotes. Today the band, whose members hail from five different continents but all have Armenian roots, had their second rehearsal at the Wiener Stadthalle. And this time we are happy to show you a longer and more close-up excerpt of their stage performance – check it out!
he Armenian delegation came to the Wiener Stadthalle early today to prepare for their second rehearsal. The country is being represented by Genealogy, the most international band in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. It consists of Essaï Altounian from France, Tamar Kaprelian from the US, Stephanie Topalian from Japan, Vahe Tilbian from Ethiopia, Mary-Jean O’Doherty Vasmatzian from Australia, and Inga Arshakyan from Armenia.
Armenia: Second rehearsal with Genealogy Report by eurovision.tv
Genealogy had their second rehearsal today in Vienna. The camera work used many wide angle shots, especially from the top of the stage, showing turning wheels on the stage floor, and a world map in the end of the song where each artist stood on his continent of origin.
The main colors of the stage scenery are purple and white, matching the costumes of the artists and the symbolism of hope.
Essaï Altounian was in a sunny mood today: “Everytime I am on stage I feel good because the stage is my place – I love to spread the energy and love with the people.” He also explained the meaning of the color purple in the stage costumes of the Armenian act: “It’s the color of hope of the Armenian culture. It means something deep for us. It’s neither dark nor bright, it’s the color of the roots and of the future. So it perfectly symbolizes the history of the Armenian people.”
The Storyboard of the Armenian Performance
This storyboard is the artistic basis of the Armenian performance in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. It shows the concept based on which the graphics and the stage design were created.
Special thanks to the Public Television Company of Armenia and Head of Delegation Gohar Gasparyan for the material!
Inga Arshakyan has been on the Eurovision Song Contest stage already in 2009, together with her sister Anush. “The feelings are the same – I am extremely excited once again. The only difference is that right now we are six artists and back then I was with my sister. I was scared in the beginning because I didn’t know them but now we have already become one big family. Right now I feel more confident because we are a bigger family now, and that makes us stronger.”
“2015 is important because it’s the year of the diaspora”
In the press conference, a journalist from Wales asked Mary-Jean, who has Welsh roots, if she had taught her fellow band members any words in Welsh language. “I told everyone to say Llanelli – and Vahe is best at it”, she replied, laughing.
One journalist from the US wanted to know why the year 2015 was important for the song and its message. “It’s the year of the diaspora, and we are all members of the diaspora. It’s been a great learning journey for me to get to know my roots”, Mary-Jean replied.
Head of Delegation Gohar Gasparyan finished the press conference by announcing that a new song by Genealogy would be launched today at 15:00. So stay tuned!