Dear Friend,

The Lark Musical Society and the Armenian General Benevolent Union have joined forces again in seeking to revitalize public awareness and appreciation of the extraordinary Armenian composer Dikran Tchouhadjian and his work.

Through the exemplary cooperation and truly monumental efforts of AGBU and Lark, two of Tchouhadjian's four operettas have been revived in full-scale Armenian productions, and were met with greatest public acclaim.

The two organizations have joined together once again to produce a third Tchouhadjian operetta: Zemire. This production will be staged for the first time since it was written and performed in 1891. Being among the few operatic pieces created by an Armenian composer, the value of the work is paramount for Armenian musical history.

For too long Tchouhadjian's creations have remained un-produced and unpublished, rendering them practically inaccessible to artists, historians, and the music-loving public. It is our intention to employ these performances as a springboard, bringing us nearer to the ultimate goal of publishing Zemire in a definitive version for the first time ever. In this manner we can assure the longevity of a cultural and musical monument, and rescue Tchouhadjian from a lamentable oblivion.

We are confident that Zemire, like its predecessors, will be received enthusiastically, and that this memorable production will be recorded with glowing reviews in the cultural annals of the Los Angeles Armenian community.

Our combined efforts continually rely on the assistance of benefactors with a vested interest in the arts and cultural preservation. We urge you to support our production, and assist us in giving Dikran Tchouhadjian and his work the renaissance it deserves and has waited to receive for over a hundred years.

For further information about the production, contact the AGBU office at 626-794-7942 or the Lark office at 818-500-9997.

With grateful thanks,
Zemire Organizing Committee