| Tigran Tchouhadjian | |
|---|---|
Painting of Dikran Tchouhadjian. |
|
| Born | 1837 Constantinople |
| Died | 1898 Izmir |
| Other names | Dikran Chouhajian |
| Occupation | composer, conductor, public activist |
| Known for | Founder of the first opera institution in the Ottoman Empire |
Tigran Tchouhadjian[1] (Armenian: Տիգրան Չուխաճեան)[2] (1837 - March 11, 1898)[3] was an Armenian composer, conductor, public activist and the founder of the first opera institution in the Ottoman Empire.[4]
Tchouhadjian was born in Constantinople. He studied at composer Gabriel Yeranian's class, then had classes in Milan. Along with other Armenian intellectuals of that period he fought for the development of the national culture, organized Armenian musical societies, theatres, schools, papers and free concerts. In his works Tchouhadjian used the elements of European musical techniques and Armenian folk melodies.[5] He is an author of pieces for piano, songs and romances, chamber and symphonic works, operas (Zemire, 1890; Leblebiji, 1875) etc. He died in Smyrna (now İzmir). Tchouhadjian is buried in Armenian cemetery of Smyrna.
He created the first Armenian opera, Arshak II (1868, partially staged in 1873), based on a historical fact about King Arshak II. It is the first “Armenian grand opera” with choruses and ballets, and was assembled on November 29, 1945 at the Armenian Opera Theater opera theater in Yerevan. Arshak II is a "gem" of Armenian musical culture and it has continued to grace the repertoire of the Yerevan Opera Theater. In 2001, it was staged at the San Francisco Opera.