ARMENIA
An Exhibit of Life & Culture
Witness a powerful collection of captivating images and video that brings the vibrant traditional music, food, faith, and soul of Armenia straight to Newport.
It's About the Journey
Accompanied by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker David Bettencourt, photographer Anastasiya Sergienya undertook an extensive odyssey across every province of Armenia. From high-altitude mountain monasteries sculpted into jagged cliffs to ancient apricot orchards, their mission was singular: to capture the pulse of one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations on film.
Through intimate collaboration with priests, ethnomusicologists, master instrument makers, and village elders, this project penetrates far beyond conventional travelogues. It preserves the sound of classic Armenian instruments like the duduk, the qamancha, and the oud; the aroma of lavash baked in a tonir, and the timeless gaze of a people whose resilience has echoed across generations.
We set out across Armenia’s provinces to record what endures: songs carried through centuries of stone, memory, and prayer. That acoustic journey culminated at Belcourt, where field recordings and live concerts breathed the sacred and soulful melodies of Armenia directly into the heart of Newport.
The Sound of Armenia
Karen Hakobyan makes his instruments by hand in his workshop in Yerevan and has a variety of duduks in different sizes and sounds.
The duduk, the national instrument of Armenia, has been an integral part of the country's culture since at least the 5th century.
Belcourt hosted a special tribute concert in 2025 featuring Berge Turabian and guest artist Alvard Mayilyan performing iconic covers and the beloved repertoire of Charles Aznavour. Co-presented with Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, the performance filled the mansion with passionate storytelling and song.
Belcourt hosted a special tribute concert in 2025 featuring Berge Turabian and guest artist Alvard Mayilyan performing iconic covers and the beloved repertoire of Charles Aznavour. Co-presented with Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, the performance filled the mansion with passionate storytelling and song.