At news-conference in Yerevan, Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan spoke about 2011 plans on conducting an Opera Festival in Armenia.

Further, Ms. Hakobyan expressed an intention to expand the repertoire of the Opera and Ballet Theater as a step towards promotion of the genre.

The Minister characterized Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida premiere due December 23 in Yerevan as one of the most prominent cultural events of the year.

Preparatory works for staging Aida opera by Giuseppe Verdi started in 2010 at the initiative of the Ministry. Through the assistance of Italian Ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini, Italian stage director Mario Corradi, whose performances are included in programs of the beset theaters in the world, was invited to Armenia.

The project was implemented through the courtesy of VivaCell-MTS mobile operator, Electric Networks of Armenia, RosGosStrakh-Armenia, Converse bank, as well as Italian embassy in Armenia and Ambassador Bruno Scapini.