Satenik TovmasyanArmeniaNow
The singer, who recently appeared on stages across Europe, arrived in Armenia to participate in the Komitas classical music festival, and within that framework had two concerts, two more are to come.
She had received the invitation to visit Armenia three years ago from Gayane chorus members, who were on a tour in Turkey. Her first visit to Yerevan was two years ago.
The singer is originally from Turkey, but spent her entire conscious life in Germany. As an adult, she returned to Turkey, but not being able to get used to Turkish reality, again returned to Germany for permanent residence.
Stehn said that particularly in recent years she has begun to deal with Armenian music, and to perform folk songs and works composed by Komitas.
“I was introduced to Armenian music by my Armenian friends, when I was studying music in college in Turkey. Since then I have been fond of and learned your culture,” she said.
Stehn said that the ties with Armenian culture broke when she returned Germany, but what happened to Dink forced her to return to Armenian music.
“I myself was an active participant in the demonstrations following the murder of Hrant Dink. After his death, at all the stages I performed I presented his favorite song, Sari Gelin,” said the singer.
Speaking about the Armenian Genocide, Stehn said that during her very first visit she went to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan to pay homage to the memory of the 1915 Genocide victims.
“What I am doing now, I do it consciously, because I want to face history. It is no coincidence that one of my concerts is called ‘Never Forget’,” she said.
The German-Turkish singer also said that she freely uses the term Genocide.
“The things should be called by their proper names. What happened to the Armenian people was genocide, and on behalf of tens of thousands of Turks and on my own behalf I apologize to the Armenians for the tragedy,” she concluded.