Armenians to commemorate Ohan Durian anniversary

A commemoration ceremony is set to take place at the Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan at 3pmm dedicated to the first anniversary of the death of the famous Armenian conductor Ohan Durian.

Durian passed away aged 88 on January 6, 2011, and is buried in Komitas Pantheon. He was the conductor of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra since 1950's.

From 1939 to 1945 he studied composition, conducting and organ at the local conservatory. He completed his education in Europe under the tutelage of Hermann Scherchen, Roger Désormière and Jean Martinon.

Through the course of his career Durian performed with 110 prominent orchestras. Maestro Durian has been compared with Arturo Toscanini, Arthur Nikisch, Herbert von Karajan, Leopold Stokowski and Leonard Bernstein in press.

In 1959 he assumed his position as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and served a five-year tenure in that position ending in 1964.

Maestro Durian was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra founded by him, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian Opera Theater.

He is the author of two symphonic suites "Komitasakan" and other compositions. In many instances Duran was the first conductor to perform symphonic works by Armenian composers. Numerous recordings of Maestro Durian have been made during his career.