Bio of Komitas Vardapet

Was Founded in Moscow in November 1924 by four talented Armenian students of Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory: Avet Gabrielyan - 1st violin, Levon Ogandjanyan - 2nd violin, Michael Terian - viola, Sergey Aslamazian - cello, the oldest performing quartet in the world. Made first public performance in February 1925.

The oldest in the world and most famous Armenian music group carries the name of Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonian, 1869-1935), a hiermonk whose genius brought a renaissance to Armenian music at the turn of the XX-th century.

During its uninterrupted creative life celebrating the 85th Anniversary in 2009, the quartet became well known throughout the world, took part in numerous international festivals, gave concerts in more than 80 countries demonstrating the highest standards of performance.

In 1963 Komitas Quartet was on tour in more than 40 cities of the USA and Canada. On 5 February 1963 President of the USA John Kennedy met with the Quartet and composer Edward Mirzoyan at the White House, where the quartet appeared with a concert, being the first Soviet ensemble that made it.

Performed with S. Richter, N. Dorliak, E. Gilels, D. Shostakovich, M. Rostropovich, V. Merjanov, K. Igumnov, Walter Zeufert, Mario Brunello and other prominent musicians. Aram Khachaturian described the quartet as the jewel of the musical culture of Armenia. Many Armenian and foreign composers dedicate their works to the quartet.

In 1976 Avet Ter-Gabrielyan handed out the first violin duties to Eduard Tadevosyan and the quartet moved from Moscow to Yerevan starting a new page in its history. The quartet made a lot of collection recordings in the USSR and released numerous albums in Russia, United Kingdom, France and USA.

The latest CD was re-issued in USA in 2003. The new studio album consisted of works of Armenian composers is due on VEM label early June 2007.

The quartet was the USSR State Prize and Armenian SSR State Prize winner. The present members of the quartet are the third generation of players.

Being famous soloists, all the four members play on Guarneri instruments (Andrea and Pietro) from 17 and 18 centuries.