Hotel Lux: Hrant Kevorkian:

Hrant Kevorkian is the composer of the song “Sweet is the Night”. Its lyrics is a poem by Missak Medzarents. The attached are passages I translated from his autobiography titled “Կեանքիս Պատկէրազարդ Ժապաւէնը» - My Life’s Picturesque Ribbon” (pages 166 and 170) reminiscing about his stay in Hotel Lux. The book was published in 1983 in Aleppo. He had personified and gifted a copy to my parents. Mr. Hrant Kevorkian passed away a few years later in Aleppo. Vahe H. Apelian

 

Hrant Kevorkian with Mr and Mrs Hovhannes Zvart Apelian

“ One day, as usual, we were sitting on the roof top veranda of our hotel, where Armenians from different countries had gathered. Upon request I played several songs on the accordion. After which, a lady (who was a scouts leader from Aleppo) was asked to sing a song. After hesitating for a few moments and after some thought, she began to sing the "Night is Sweet” song.  She had barely uttered the first two words, there came a restrained commotion in the audience, but she continued singing without paying attention to the stealthy smiles and meaningful looks. When the song ended and the applause stopped, the ever ready and always active Mrs. Zuart Apelian, without any further patience, addressed the lady and said:

- Miss, you sang very well, congratulations. But did you know that the composer of the song you sang is the gentleman wearing eye glasses sitting right next to you?

The lady,  caught by surprise, turned to me, and said:

- Sir, first of all, I congratulate you for your beautiful composition.  But do you know how many hearts have moved with this song of yours?

I answered without hesitation in a light hearted mood :

- Thank you, ma'am. I hope that one of those hearts moved in your favor.

The Hotel Lux Roof Top Veranda

*****

" I could never forget the proprietor of our Armenian hotel, Mr. Hovhannes Apelian and his esteemed wife, Zvart. Both of whom treated me kindly. Also, his sons  Vahe and Garo and his nephews Stepan’s (Steve) and Ara who extended their sincere friendship to me.

Hovhannes Apelian

"Vahe graduated as a pharmacist from the American University of Beirut; Steve graduated as an agriculturist, and Ara as a doctor. Ara is also known as a writer and as a serious young man engaged in the Armenian literary culture. 

It would be impossible to forget, especially our Sunday lunch (chicken and rice pilaf). All in the inn ate together like a patriarchal family and carried on conversation with joy and laughter. After lunch we had coffee and  gradually moved to our rooms. Mr. Hovhannes had a habit of taking a nap on a chair .... 

This man, Hovhannes, a native of Kessab from the village of Keurkune, had a rare heart and soul. A few years ago, at the sight of  the desolate state of his and our beloved hotel, because of the devastating civil war in Lebanon, left for the United States to join his son Vahe. Garo got married and moved to the U.S. as well with his wife. Mrs. Zvart Apelian, the faithful educator and the devoted teacher at Shamlian-Tatigian School, remained behind for now. Steve and Ara  intend to further their specializations in their chosen fields. I wish success to the studious brothers.”