Armenia’s Eva Rivas qualifies for Eurovision finals
Yerevan – At Eurovision semi-finals in Norway’s capital Oslo, Armenia’s pick Eva Rivas successfully qualified for the finals on May 29. Her song Apricot Stone features famed musician Jivan Gasparian on duduk.
Winners among twenty finalists will be chosen in equal measure by popular vote via SMS and an international selection jury.
Diana Mnatsakanyan, who represents Rivas’ main sponsor the Armenian Public TV, shared challenges of the act’s preparation going into the semi-finals on May 27.
“Though one of the back-vocalists has broken her arm, though we had lots of technical problems with the lights, pyrotechnics and tree yesterday morning, evening rehearsal went perfect!” Mnatsakanyan told The Armenian Reporter.
“We are lucky to work with the team of professionals and that’s why it was so easy for the artists to perform their song.”
On how Armenia’s most accomplished living musician is getting along in Oslo, Mnatsakanyan said: “Jivan is 83 and he certainly gets tired from time to time, but when it comes to performing and working on stage he’s one of the most energetic artists ever!”
According to European bookmakers, Azerbaijan’s Safura Alizadeh is favored to win this year’s Eurovision, which would bring next year’s competition to Baku.
With reports last year that local KGB harassed a few dozen Azerbaijanis who voted for Armenia that might present challenges for Armenia’s participation.
This year’s financial difficulties prevented Czech Republic, Hungary and Montenegro from taking part.
But Azerbaijani government spared no expense for Alizadeh’s act, hiring former choreographer for Britney Spears and Beyonce, JaQuel Knight. Possibly reflecting this determination, Azerbaijani media reported that the young singer nearly drowned during the making of her music video.
Bookmakers see Germany’s Lena Meyer-Landrut as coming second, with Israel’s Harel Skaat and Armenia’s Rivas sharing the third and fourth spots.
Meantime, according to Google research of online popularity of Eurovision contenders, Germany’s act comes first, followed by Georgia’s Sofo Nizharadze, Alizadeh, Greece’s Giorgos Alkaios and Rivas in fifth spot.
source: Armenian Reporter
Great website. I have learned so much about you. Pete
Congrats Eva. Job well done.!
The comentators could have a t least tried to put some fire in their comments. They sound like pulling teeth. Doesn’t do much good for Armenia’s image. May be they should hire someone else next time to help fire up the listeners.