Armenian Radio Archive

Hovhannes Badalyan was born in village Shavarin (Iran) near city Hamadan. He went to Armenian secondary school in Baghdad. Hovhannes returned to Tehran in 1936 and started singing in Nikol Galanderyan’s choir. From 1946 to 1949 he studied at R. Melilikian’s Music College in Yerevan. Badalyan was a soloist at Folk Instruments Ensemble of Radio and Television of Armenia and between 1954 to 2001 soloist at Armenian State Song and Dance Ensemble. He taught at Komitas State Conservatory from 1981 to 2001. Hovhannes Badalyan awarded titles People’s Artist of Armenia in 1961 and Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots in 2001. Hovhannes Badalyan died in Yerevan.

Ruben Matevosyan was born in Spitak. He studied at Sayat-Nova Music School, Yerevan State University the department of Philology, simultaneously at Yerevan State Conservatory which finished in 1967. Since 1968 Ruben Matevosyan has been teaching at Yerevan State College of Variety and Jazz Art after A. Babajanian and at Yerevan State Conservatory from 1990 (Professor since 1996). Between 1961 to 1992 Matevosyan was a soloist at Folk Instruments Ensemble at State Committee of Radio and TV of Armenia, from 1996 artistic director, since 1992 soloist and artistic director of “Astgher” Ensemble. Ruben Matevosyan was awarded with a number of awards. He is the Head of Union of Armenian Song Art since 1999. He received award People’s Artist of Armenia in 1978, Honorary Citizen of Yerevan in 2015, in 2011 Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots and Badge of Honor in 2016.

Melik Mavisakalyan was born in Yerevan. He graduated from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory the Department of Piano in 1961 and Department of Composition in 1967. Between 1962 to1965 he was the musical director and the second conductor of State Variety Orchestra of Armenia. Melik Mavisakalyan was the Executive Secretary of Composer’s Union of Armenia from 1970 to 1972. Between 1972 to 1985 he was the artistic director and the Chief Conductor of Symphonic-Variety Orchestra of the State Committee of Radio and TV of Armenia. Mavisakalyan was the Chairman of Music Foundation of Armenia from 1990 to 1991. Between 1991 to1995 he was the artistic director of Tatul Altunyan Song and Dance Ensemble. Melik Mavisakalyan was the Winner of All Union Contests of Young Composers in 1969 and in 1971, Laureate of the Union of Armenians in Russia in 2010. He awarded the title of Honorary Art Worker of Armenia in 1982, People’s Artist of Armenia in 2012, Yerevan Mayor Gold Medal in 2015.

Ofelya Hambardzumyan was born in Yerevan. She studied at Yerevan Music College after R. Melikian, the class of H. Musinian. Ofelya Hambardzumyan was invited to Radio of Armenia into the Folk Instruments Ensemble directed by Aram Merangulyan where she performed Armenian folk and ashugh songs. From 1944 she was a soloist at Folk Instruments Ensemble of Radio and TV of Armenia. She mostly performed works by Sayat-Nova, Farhad, Miskin Burji, Jivani, Sheram and Havasi. She had concerts in CIS cities and Armenian populated countries. In 1959 Ofelya Hambardzumyan was awarded with People’s Artist of Armenia, in 1956 Badge of Honor, in 1985 Order of the Red Banner of Labor and Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots in 2011. She died in Yerevan.

Raisa Mkrtchyan was born in town Sevan. In 1948 she moved to Yerevan. She graduated from the Piano Department of R.Melikyan State Musical College in Yerevan. From 1963 to 1968 she studied at Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory Piano Department and in parallel sang at the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia. She has worked as a soloist at Variety Symphony Orchestra of Armenian Radio and Television since 1968. In 2001 she was awarded with Movses Khorenatsi Medal of RA, recipient of the Gold Medal of “Karot” International Armenian Film Festival in Moscow in 2008. In 2011 she awarded the Medal of Honor of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. In 1977 she received the Honorary Title of Honored Artist and in 2006 the title of People's Artist of Armenia. Raisa Mkrtchyan received the 1st degree Medal for Services to Homeland in 2016.

Shara Talyan was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. From 1901 to 1913, Talyan studied at the Nersisyan School in Tbilisi. From the age of 13, he was a soloist in the school’s choir. Talyan’s first solo concerts were held in 1911 (in Shulaver) and in 1912 (in Tiflis). Talyan founded the folk ensemble "Armenian Ashughs." From 1932 to 1933 he participated in the founding of the Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theater. In 1938 Talyan organized a new ensemble, named after Sayat-Nova. In 1942 the musical comedy theatre group, created through his efforts, staged Armenia's first musical comedies. Talyan was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR, the State Prize of the Soviet Union. Talyan died in Yerevan.

Zaruhi Dolukhanyan was born in Moscow. In 1933 she graduated from Gnessin Music College in Moscow and in 1957 graduated from Gnessin Moscow Musical Pedagogical Institute (now Gnessin Russian Academy of Music). In 1941 she started singing at Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan. Zaruhi moved to Moscow in 1944. Dolukhanyan was a member of the All-Union Radio and Television and from 1959 soloist at Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1972 she taught at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow (Professor from 1983). She became a member of the Union of Russian Theatrical Figures in 1977. In 1951 she awarded the USSR State Prize and in 1966 the Lenin Prize. In 1952 she awarded the title of Honored Artist of Armenia. She received People's Artist of Armenia in 1955, in 1956 of Russia and in 1990 People's Artist of USSR respectively. Zaruhi Dolukhanyan died in Moscow.

Varduhi Khachatryan was born in Leninakan (present day Gyumri). She went to Olginyan secondary school. Varduhi entered university the Vocal Department of Leninakan Music College in 1942 and moved to Yerevan in 1945. She studied at the Vocal Departments of R. Melikian’s Music College and Yerevan State Conservatory between1945 to 1949. Varduhi taught at Yerevan State Conservatory (Professor). She worked at Tatul Altunyan’s capella from 1947 to 1950. Varduhi Khachatryan received a number of awards and diplomas and had concerts in different cities around the world. In 1982 she awarded the title of People’s Artist of Armenia. Khachatryan died in Yerevan.

Arno Babajanian was born in Yerevan. He wrote his first musical composition at the age of nine. In 1929 he was admitted to Yerevan State Conservatory’s Music School. After graduating he continued his studies at the Conservatory. In 1938 he left for Moscow and started studying at Gnessin Musical College. From 1948 Babajanian continued his studies at the Piano Department of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. From 1950 to 1956 he taught at Yerevan Conservatory. Babajanian lived and worked in Moscow from 1956. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of Armenia and the USSR in 1960 and 1971 respectively. Babajanian died in Yerevan.

Artashes Avetyan was born in Tehran. He learned to play the guitar when he was 14. At school he had a band with whom he traveled to different cities in Iran to perform. His vocal teacher was dramatic tenor Aram Sargsyan. Artashes moved to Armenia in 1963. For 23 years he was a soloist at the Variety Symphony Orchestra of Radio and Television of Armenia, and for 5 years soloist at the Armenian State Orchestra directed by Konstantin Orbelyan. In 1990 he moved to the United States where he started playing in clubs and also printing books for Armenian schools.

Georgi Minasyan was born in Sochi. He graduated from the Moscow State P.Tchaikovsky Conservatory and from the Opera faculty of the State Institute of Theater Arts. After graduation he worked at Krasnodar Opera Theater. He was a soloist in Moscow's “Mosconcert”. As a soloist he started singing at Variety Symphony Orchestra of Radio of Armenia in 1972. He also was a soloist at "Hayhamerg" Art Centre. In the early 1990's he moved to the United States. Georgi Minasyan awarded the title of Honored Artist of Armenia in 1979. He returned Yerevan in 2001. He died in Yerevan.

Lusine Zakaryan was born in Akhaltskha. In 1952 she moved to Yerevan and studied at R. Melikian Music School. From 1957 to 1962 studied at Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (Vocal Department). Since 1965 was a soloist at Armphilharmonic, 1970-1983 soloist of Symphony orchestra of Radio and TV of Armenia. During these years she also sang at Echmiadzin Apostolic Church choir. During Soviet times, when religious music was forbidden, Lusine Zakaryan had the courage to introduce Armenian religious music on stage. Because of her soulful voice, her recordings have been included in world music fund. Lusine Zakaryan perfectly performed religious songs by Komitas, other Armenian folk songs, psalms and taghs. She had concerts in different countries of the world, constantly gave concerts with organ player Berj Zamkochian. Composer Arno Babajanian dedicated his work “Vocalise” to Lusine Zakaryan, poets Silva Kaputikyan, Vahagn Davtyan, Paruyr Sevak wrote poems for her. In 1967 she received Lenin Komsomol Prize of Armenian SSR, in 1972 was awarded with People’s Artist of Armenia. Lusine Zakaryan died in Yerevan, is buried at the cemetery of St. Gayane Church of Echmiadzin.

Bella Darbinyan was born in Kirovakan (present day Vanadzor). From 1955 to 1959 she studied at R. Melikyan Music College in Yerevan and from 1959 to 1962 at Vocal Department of the Komitas State Conservatory class of Tatevik Sazandaryan. In 1961 she continued her studies in the studio affiliated with the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. Bella Darbinyan was a soloist at Armenian Variety Orchestra from 1961 to 1966. She worked as a soloist at Armenian Radio Committee's Variety Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1996. In 1966 she awarded the title of Honorary Artist of Armenia. In 2001 she received “Movses Khorenatsi” Medal of the Republic of Armenia. Bella Darbinyan died in Yerevan.

Khachatur Avetisyan was born in Leninakan (present day Gyumri, Armenia). He studied at Yerevan Musical School (named after R. Melikyan). In 1960 he graduated from the Department of Composition of Yerevan State Conservatory (named after Komitas). Between 1950 to 1960 he taught Qanun at the Musical School. In 1957 the Qanun Ensemble, headed by Khachatur Avetisyan, won the third prize at the Moscow International Festival of music. From 1958 to 1972, he was the music director of the State Dance Ensemble of Armenia. From 1972 to 1978, Khachatur was the artistic director of the Song and Dance Ensemble of Armenia (named after Tatul Altunyan). He taught at Yerevan State Conservatory between 1972 to 1986, and as a Professor from 1986. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Armenia in 1961 and Honored Art Worker in 1965. In 1984 Khachatur Avetisyan was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Armenia and in 1985 received the State Award of the Republic of Armenia. Avetisyan died in Yerevan.

Flora Khorenyan was born in Kherson (Ukraine). In 1934 her family moved to village Khulo, Georgia. She got education at a local Georgian secondary school where she got a number of medals. During World War II she visited military units, gave concerts and took care of soldiers. During a music competition in 1945 vocal teachers noticed her musical talent and advised her to get an education. As a gifted student, Flora Khorenyan was sent to a music school at the Tbilisi Conservatory. In 1948 she entered Tbilisi State Conservatory the Department of Choral Conducting. She moved to Yerevan in 1950, two years later entered the Vocal Department of Yerevan Conservatory the class of Tamara Shahnazaryan. She was qualified as an opera singer. After finishing the conservatory worked at Opera and Ballet Theatre after Spendiaryan as a soloist, in parallel at Aram Merangulyan’s folk instruments ensemble. In 1957 Laureate of the Youth Festival in Armenia, since 1954 she was a Member of the Propaganda Bureau of the Union of Composers. Flora Khorenyan had concerts in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, France, Canada and in other countries. In 1974 she received the title Honored Artist of Armenia. She died in Yerevan.

Born in Yerevan. In 1945 she graduated from the Moscow P. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. From 1948 she taught at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, where from 1968 she was head of department (professor from 1972). In 1954 she received the degree of Candidate of Arts. She gave solo recitals and performed with symphony orchestras. Her repertoire included works by Komitas, A. Khachaturian, A. Babajanian, and Russian and Western European composers. In 1973 she was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of Armenia. She died in Yerevan.

Gevorg Muradyan was born in Yerevan. He graduated from Yerevan State Conservatory the Department of Opera and Symphony Conducting. Between 1974 to 1990 Gevorg Muradyan was the conductor of Symphony Orchestra of Radio and TV of Armenia. He improved his mastery in Vienna Musical Academy from 1986 to 1987. He was the conductor of Yerevan Symphony Orchestra from 1991 and from 1995 director and conductor of Philharmonic Choir. Muradyan taught at the Department of Vocal Singing at Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (Docent). He was the artistic director and chief conductor of State Chamber Orchestra of Artsakh in 2004. Gevorg Muradyan awarded the title of Honored Artist of Artsakh in 2009.

Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonyan) was born in Anatolia, Turkey, in the town of Kutina (Kutahya). At the age of 7, he entered the local elementary school. As soon as he finished elementary school at 11 years old, his father sent him to Broosa to continue his education. However, Soghomon's father tragically died 4 months after his arrival and he was forced to return home. He could sing beautifully and in Kutina was nicknamed “a little vagrant singer”. In 1881, Kutina's priest, G. Derdzakyan, went to Echmiatsin to be ordained a bishop. He was asked by the Holy See of Echmiatsin to select an orphan boy with a good singing voice to study at the distinguished Gevorgian Seminary. He chose a 12-year-old Komitas. Greeted by the Catholicos Gevorg IV, Soghomon replied in Turkish, “I don’t speak Armenian, but if you wish, I will sing”. Then, with his fine soprano voice, he sang an Armenian sharakan (sacred chant), deeply impressing the Catholicos. Over the next years, Komitas found "emotional and intellectual stability" in the seminary. It was also here that he learned the Armenian Khaz music notation system he would use for transcription throughout his life and developed a deep passion for music. With his newfound skills, Komitas began to transcribe songs he heard in nearby Armenian villages, earning the title "Notaji Vardapet" ("the note-taking priest"). In 1890 Soghomon was ordained a monk. In 1893 he graduated from the seminary, was awarded the rank of the Priest, and acquired his new name “Komitas” - the name of an outstanding poet of the VII century, the author of sharakans. At the seminary, Komitas was appointed as a music teacher and as choirmaster of Echmiatsin Cathedral. In 1895 he was ordained the spiritual rank of the Archimandrite (a title of honor for service to the church). In October 1895, Komitas left for Tbilisi, Georgia, to study at its musical college. However, upon meeting the composer Makar Yekmalyan he changed his mind and started studying his course on harmony. Komitas then decided to move to Berlin under the sponsorship of the millionaire Aleksandr Mantashyan. In Berlin, Komitas entered the private conservatory of Professor Richard Schmidt and attended lectures on Philosophy, Aesthetics, General History and History of Music at the Imperial University of Berlin. Upon the invitation of the International Music Association, he gave lectures devoted to the Armenian church and its contemporary music in comparison with Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish music. In September 1899, Komitas returned to Echmiatsin. He organized a small orchestra and assembled and rigorously trained a polyphonic choir. He spent a great deal of time traveling throughout the Armenian countryside, transcribing and preserving thousands of Armenian, Kurdish, Persian and Turkish songs. He also toured around the world as a performer and promoter of traditional Armenian music. With his free time, he began a preliminary writing of the musical epic “Sasna tsrer” and continued working on the opera “Anush”, which he started in 1904. Komitas was passionately focused on the themes and content of folk music and love songs, which bred tension with the ultraconservative Etchmiatsin clergy. Gradually, the disapproval of new leaders and the resulting gossip and harassment pushed Komitas into an identity crisis. In desperation, he sent a letter to the Catholicos, begging him to release him and let him live and make music peacefully. This request remained unanswered. In 1910 Komitas left Etchmiatsin for Constantinople. There, he expected to find an environment that would nurture him, protect him, and encourage him, allowing him to fulfill his dream: establishing a National Conservatory with which he could honor and immortalize the music of Armenia. Sadly, all his ideas were only faced with the indifference of the local musical authorities. Unwilling to be defeated, Komitas organized a mixed choir of 300 men called “Gousan”, delivered presentations and lectures, and gave many of his own concerts, performing both as a soloist and conductor. He was endowed with the great power to excite and persuade his listeners - in 1906, after the performance of one of Komitas' concertos, Claude Debussy exclaimed: “Brilliant father Komitas! I bow in front of your musical genius!”. Despite the praise of illustrious composers, however, Komitas could not find supporters who would help him implement his plans in Constantinople. Moreover, he felt distanced from his native people and the Armenian music he was deeply passionate about. However, he continued his hard work. Komitas paid special attention to the composition of church music. In this field his masterpiece is “Patarag”, (first published in 1933) written for a male chorus. He was also one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology. At the Paris Conference of the International Music Society, he gave two presentations: “Armenian Folk Music” and “On Old and New Notation of Armenian Spiritual Music”, which provoked great interest among musicologists. He was requested to give a spontaneous presentation on the topic: “On Time, Place, Accentuation and Rhythm of Armenian Music.” During World War I, the government of Young Turks initiated their monstrous massacre of the Armenian people. In 1915, Komitas was arrested along with 180 prominent Armenian writers, publicists, doctors and lawyers. He was violently exiled to the depths of Anatolia, Turkey, where he witnessed the brutal torture and killing of Armenian people. Although Komitas was returned to Constantinople after the intervention of influential friends and US ambassador Henry Morgenthau, the nightmare he had experienced left a deep, ineradicable impression on his psyche. He was severed from the outside world, broken by his trauma. In 1916 he was put in a psychiatric hospital. He found his final shelter in Paris, in the suburban sanatorium Vil-Jouif, where he spent almost 20 years of his life. He sadly passed away in a Paris psychiatric hospital in 1935. In the spring of 1936 his remains were transported to Armenia and buried in Yerevan in the Pantheon of prominent art figures. Despite the tragic circumstances of his final years and death, Komitas has left a significant and enduring impression on the Armenian - and international - musical world. Through his tireless efforts to transcribe and publish so many folk songs (around 3000), he has preserved the cultural heritage of Western Armenia, that otherwise would have been destroyed and lost forever due to the genocide. The Yerevan State Musical Conservatory is named after him, as well as the world-renowned string quartet, Komitas Quartet. He also appears on the 10000 dram banknote. His legacy will endure for centuries to come. As Vazgen I, Catholicos between 1955 and 1994, put it, "The Armenian people found and recognized its soul, its spiritual nature, in Komitas’ songs. Komitas Vardapet is a beginning having no end. He will live through the Armenian people, and they must live through him, now and forever”.

Martin Vardazaryan was born in Yerevan. He studied at Yerevan Tchaikovsky Music School from 1944 to 1956. He finished Yerevan State Conservatory the class of Georgi Saradjev in 1961, then Edvard Mirzoyan’s class in 1970. Vardazaryan played in Quintet of Radio Committee of Armenia from 1956 to 1956. Between 1961 to 1963 he directed the orchestra of “Moscow” cinema. He was the artisic director of Variety Ensemble of Radio and TV of Armenia from 1966 to 1972. Vardazaryan taught at Yerevan State Pedagogical University at the Department of Art from 1971 to 1974. Between 1974 to1989 he was the artistic director of Composers Union of Armenia. Since 1990 Vardazaryan is the conductor and advisor of Public Radio and TV of Armenia Variety Symphony Orchestra. He teaches at Komitas State Conservatory at Variety and Jazz Department (Professor since 1997). Vardazaryan received the title of Honored Artist of Armenia in 1990, Honorary Citizen of Yerevan in 2007 and in 2011 People’s Artist of Armenia.

Raffi Hovhannisyan was born in Ltchashen (Gegharkunik region). He was soloist at Aram Merangulyan’s folk instruments ensemble. His playlist included songs of Komitas, Sayat Nova, Jivani, ashugh Sheram, ashugh Havasi, ashugh Ashot and ashugh Shahen. He had concerts in different countries where he represented Armenian music. Raffi Hovhannisyan performed songs “Karabakh”, “Horovel”, “Dun en glkhen”, “Annman tarazov” and others. In 1978 received title Honored Artist of Armenia. He died in Yerevan.

Egîdê Cimo (born 1932) was a Kurdish instrumentalist, born in the village of Erdeşîr in the Armavir district of Armenia, whose family had migrated from Van. When the Kurdish section of Armenian State Radio opened in 1955, he became its first instrumentalist, and by his own account he worked at Radio Yerevan for 37 years, playing the bilûr, fîq and mey. In 1967 he graduated from the Romanos Melikyan music college in Yerevan, and he became known as "Mîrê Bilûrê" (Prince of the Flute). His recordings are kept in the Public Radio of Armenia archive.

Gohar Gasparyan was born in Cairo. She studied at musical college in Cairo, then sang in Armenian Church Grigor Lusavorich. She studied under the guidance of professors from Italy Elise Feldman and Vincenzo Carro. She was called “Armenian nightingale”. She moved to Armenia in 1948. From 1949 she was a soloist at A. Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet Theatre. Since 1964 taught at Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (Professor since 1973). Gohar Gasparyan had concerts in Egypt, Iran, Japan, cities of Latin America, England, USA and in other countries. She was chosen Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 7-8 convocations (from 1966 to1974). She was a member of the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR 5 convocation. Gohar Gasparyan was awarded the title of People's Artist of Armenia, and in 1956 - People's Artist of the USSR, in 1996 she received the Order of “Mesrop Mashtots”. She died in Yerevan and was buried in the pantheon of Komitas Park.

Ruben Aharonyan was born in Riga. In 1971 he graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, class of Yuri Yankelevich. He graduated from the Conservatory with a postgraduate degree under the tuition of Leonid Kogan. Aharonyan taught at Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan (Professor) from 1971 to 1996. From 1983 to 1996 he was the artistic director of the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra. In 1996 he moved to Russia. In 2000 he became the director and the first violinist of the Moscow Borodin Quartet. Ruben Aharonyan was named People's Artist of Armenia in 1980. He won the State Prize of Armenia in 1988 and State Prize of Russia in 2001. In 1996 he was awarded with “Movses Khorenatsi Medal” and in 2012 Gold Medal of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.