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The Fall of the Roman Empire

We came across this historically intriguing film we wanted to share with our Armenian community. This epic film, produced in 1964, depicts a weakening Roman Empire struggling to maintain its power and defend against a growing number of enemies on all fronts. To do so, Caesar decides to unite Rome and powerful ally Armenia through the marriage of his daughter with Armenia’s king. An all-star cast, including Alec Guiness, Christopher Plummer, Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif, playing the King of Armenia, bring this memorable story to life.

In this short clip, which we found amusing and endearing, Rome’s allies arrive to show their allegiance to Caesar. However, Caesar is somewhat indifferent to most of his allies except when Armenia’s king presents himself.

Watch the full-length film here:

The Fall of the Roman Empire
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Sarkis Baltaian (concert pianist)

Sarkis Baltaian, emerging as one of the most promising young pianists of his generation, has gained an international reputation as a concert pianist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. Praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate pianissimos” and compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Mr. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall Debut in 1999 and has performed extensively throughout the United States, Germany, Austria, Holland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. He has frequently appeared as a soloist with various orchestras including USC Thornton Symphony, American Youth Symphony, Plovdiv, Pleven, Sliven Philharmonics, Sofia Soloist Orchestra (Bulgaria), to name a few. Together with his sister violinist Aroussiak Baltaian, he has been featured as a guest artist at the 1999 Los Angeles Philharmonic International Gala and also appeared at the 2000 World Piano Pedagogy Convention in Las Vegas.

Mr. Baltaian is the 1999 winner of the USC Piano Concerto Competition. He is also a Grand prize winner of the Armenian Allied Arts Association Competition, the “Young Piano Virtuosi” International Competition in the Czech Republic and the “Svetoslav Obretenov” National Competition in Bulgaria. His festival appearances include the Aspen International Music Festival, Holland Music Sessions and Plovdiv International Chamber Music Festival. Mr. Baltaian has made numerous recordings for Television and Radio Stations in the United States, Holland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. He has been featured in live radio broadcasts on KUSC “Sundays at Four”, Los Angeles, WMFT’s “Dame Myra Hess” series in Chicago, KNPR Classical series, Las Vegas.

Sarkis Baltaian, of Armenian descent was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and began to study piano at the age of four with Rositza Ivancheva at the “Dobrin Petkov” Music School. Awarded a merit scholarship from the University of Southern California and grants from AGBU-New York and USC Friends of Armenian Music, he continued his education at USC where he received the Bachelor and Masters of Music Degrees and became the Outstanding Graduate of the Keyboard Department. His principal teacher has been John Perry and he has also worked with various musicians such as Sergiu Commisiona, Larry Livingston, Alan Remington, Vasil Kazandjiev, Emile Naumov, Karl-Ulrich Schnabel, Gyorgy Sandor, Menahem Pressler, John O’Connor, Germaine Muniet, Lee Kum-Sing, Edna Golandsky, Nina Scolnik, Milton Stern, Sergei Dorensky, Dmitri Bashkirov.

Sarkis Baltaian is a frequent adjudicator for such organizations as the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, Music Teachers Association of California, Southwestern Youth Music Festival and was recently appointed to become the District Coordinator for CAMPT District IX.

From 2002-2006, Dr. Baltaian served as the teaching assistant to Professor John Perry at the University of Southern California and was also a member of the piano faculty at the California State University, Los Angeles from 2005-2008.

Currently, Dr. Baltaian is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

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Alecko Eskandarian

A two-time All-Star and five-time MLS Goal of the Week winner, Eskandarian has captured awards throughout his career, including the 2002 Hermann Trophy after his junior year at the University of Virginia. Eskandarian, who is of Armenian descent, is the son of Iranian National team player Andranik Eskandarian, who represented his country at the 1978 World Cup and thereafter played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.

MLS Experience

2009: Currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

2008: After missing much of the first half of the season due to sports hernia surgery, Eskandarian came on strong late in the year and finished the season tied for first on the team with five goals. In a span between Aug. 30 and Oct. 4, he scored against each of his three previous teams (RSL, DC, Toronto).

2007: Between Real Salt Lake and Toronto, played 23 games (starting all 23), scoring 2 goals and adding 3 assists, logging 1,913 minutes.

2006: Came back from his concussion by scoring against New York in the season opener, and finished the year with seven goals and two assists, including Goal of the Week honors on May 13 for his tally against KC. His impressive return to form netted Eskandarian a Commissioner’s Pick as an MLS All-Star.

2005: In 12 games (seven starts), recorded one goal and one assist before suffering a season-ending concussion on June 18 at New England after colliding with Revs GK Matt Reis.

2004: Led D.C. United in scoring with 10 goals and earning MLS Cup MVP honors while guiding the team to an MLS Cup victory, and was twice awarded MLS Player of the Week honors (6/19 and 9/11) and won four Sierra Mist Goal of the Week accolades (4/3, 6/19, 7/3, and 9/18). His strong play also earned him the D.C. United Coaches Award for 2004 and his first spot on the MLS All-Star team.

2003: After being the first overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, Eskandarian appeared in 23 games for D.C. United and finished his first MLS season with three goals and two assists.

International

Was named to the U.S. U-23 National Team for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2004, finishing the tournament with four goals, including a hat trick against Honduras. He earned his lone cap for the U.S. Senior Men’s National Team on May 26, 2003, against Wales in San Jose.

College

Played three standout seasons at the University of Virginia and established himself as one of the all-time greats at the school, finishing his Cavaliers career with 50 goals (including 15 game winners) and 13 assists. In his junior season, in 2002, Eskandarian set a single-season school record with 25 goals, and collected nearly every award he was up for after being named the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy award winner, Soccer America’s Player of the Year, a NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I First Team All-American, and many others. In his sophomore year, Eskandarian scored nine goals, and was a Second Team All-American. As a freshman, in 2000, led the team with 16 goals and six assists.

Personal

Parents are Andranik and Anahid, older brother is Ara…His father, Andranik, was a professional soccer player for the New York Cosmos and played in the 1978 World Cup with Iran; Ara played soccer at Villanova…Was born in Hackensack, NJ, raised in Montvale, NJ, and currently lives in Hermosa Beach but is a fan of all New Jersey sports teams: the Nets, Jets and Mets. Also enjoys watching Arsenal play…Is proud of his Armenian heritage, and is happy to be in Los Angeles where he can give back to a large Armenian community. Cites Armenian food as his favorite, along with Mexican food and sushi…Best soccer memory is scoring a goal in the first game of the 2004 MLS season on national television and dedicating it to his friend Nicole Megaloudis, who had recently passed away: “I wrote a message for her on my t-shirt underneath my jersey and I know it touched many people, especially her family, who were able to see that.”

Honors

MLS Cup Champion (2004)

MLS Cup MVP (2004)

MLS All-Star (2004, 2006)

Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Winner (2002)

NCAA First Team All-American (2002)

NCAA Second Team All-American (2001)