On July 4, the amateur performers once again took the stage at the Russian House. The hall was full. This time, seven artists applied to take part: Armen Hakobjanyan, Lilit and Ani Melkonyan, Maria Alkova, Ilya Sirchenko, Irina Mikhailova and Ekaterina Patrashkova.

Each of them is already well known to our audience from the concert dedicated to International Women’s Day, as are the evening’s hosts — Oksana Moiseeva, one of the organizers of the Parents’ Committee, and Evgeny Kozulya, coordinator of the Immortal Regiment in Belgium.

The concert was opened by Lilit Melkonyan. In honor of the married couple whose celebration marked the solemn beginning of the evening, she performed the “Wedding Waltz.” Lilit is not only a frequent participant in exhibitions of compatriots and a person of many talents, but also a wonderful accompanist; her sister Ani performed songs written especially for her.

Armen Hakobjanyan is a true polyglot: he writes songs in Russian, French, Armenian and Greek — something the audience was able to see for themselves. Irina Mikhailova, remembered by the audience for her touching interpretation of “The Snow Queen,” this time chose themes close to every woman: family, comfort and love.

Ekaterina Patrashkova presented her French translation of the timeless poems “Do Not Renounce Love” by Veronika Tushnova and “Echo of Love” by Robert Rozhdestvensky. Maria Alkova appeared in a new role: while she had previously been known as a poet and a cappella performer, she now emerged as a true bard. Ilya Sirchenko gave the audience a nostalgic journey back to the late 1990s, recalling the music of Viktor Tsoi and other idols of the youth of that time.

At the close of the evening, all the participants and audience members joined together in singing “How Wonderful That We Are All Gathered Here Today.” And it truly was wonderful! Summing up the evening, Evgeny quoted Robert Rozhdestvensky’s eternally relevant lines: “Everything begins with love.”