Komitas Quartet

The Komitas Quartet is a string quartet musical ensemble founded in Moscow in November 1924, and is the oldest-established string quartet in the world still performing. It is now in the third and fourth generation of membership.

The founding members were four talented Armenian students at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory:
1st violin: Avet Gabrielyan
2nd violin: Levon Ogandjanyan
Viola: Mikael Terian (Микаэл Тэриан)
Cello: Sergey Aslamazian

This group gave its first public performance in February 1925.

This group, the best-known Armenian music group, carries the name of Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonyan, 1869-1935). Komitas was a monk whose genius brought a renaissance to Armenian music at the turn of the 20th century. During its uninterrupted creative life, celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2009, the quartet has become well known throughout the world, taking part in numerous international festivals, giving concerts in more than 80 countries, and demonstrating the highest standards of performance.

The quartet has performed with Sviatoslav Richter, Nina Dorliak, Emil Gilels, Dmitri Shostakovich, Mstislav Rostropovich, Victor Merzhanov, Konstantin Igumnov, Walter Zeufert, Mario Brunello, Anahit Nersesyan and other prominent musicians. Aram Khachaturian described the quartet as the jewel of the musical culture of Armenia. Many Armenian and foreign composers have dedicated works to the quartet. The quartet was the USSR State Prize and Armenian SSR State Prize winner. The latest award is St. Mesrop Mashtots order given by Armenia President to Eduard Tadevosyan in 2010. The current members of the quartet are the third and fourth generation of players.

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