Ohan Durian Passed Away

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: Ohan Durian, world-famous Armenian conductor and composer, passed away today at the age of 88. Ohan Durian was born September 8, 1922 in Jerusalem. From 1939 to 1945 he studied composition, conducting and organ at the local conservatory. He completed his education in Europe under the tutelage of H. Sherchen, R. Desormiere and G. Martinon.

From 1963 to 1968 Mr. Durian was the Music Director of the Leipzig Opera and Permanent Guest Conductor of the "Gewandhaus" Orchestra. In the result of the cooperation with the orchestra, the Maestro partook in more than 19 concerts. During all of those concerts the Maestro did not use a baton or score for conducting and he made the contact with Leipzig’s audience possible through the music language of ‘speaking hands’.

In press Durian was compared with A. Toscanini, A. Nikisch, H. Karajan, L. Stokowsky and L. Bernstein. In 1959 he assumed his position as the artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and served five-year tenure up to 1964. Maestro Durian was the artistic director and principal conductor of the "Ohan Durian" Radio&TV Symphony Orchestra and the artistic director and principal conductor of Yerevan Opera Theatre. He directed Moscow Symphonic Orchestra of Stas Namin Center in 2002-2006. He performed with 110 prominent orchestras.

He is the author of two "Komitasakan" symphonic suites and a number of compositions. He was the first to perform many symphonic works by Armenian composers. Numerous recordings of Maestro Durian were made during his career. A film about the prominent conductor was shot 3 years ago on the 85th anniversary of the Maestro. The film, created upon the initiative of Stas Namin – famous musician – is titled ‘Profession of Deep Emotions: Ohan Duryan’.