Ohan Khachaturovich Durian (Ohan Durian) |

Oh Durian

People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR (1967). Moscow… 1957… Young people came here from all over the world to take part in their Sixth World Festival. Among the guests of the capital was then Ogan Duryan, who came from France. He performed in Moscow with the Grand Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Television. The gifted conductor visited the land of his ancestors, Armenia, and received an invitation to work in the symphony orchestra of the Armenian SSR. This is how his cherished dream came true – to live and work in his native Armenia, this is how he found a real homeland. 1957 became a Rubicon in Duryan’s creative life. Behind were the years of study, the first successful artistic debuts … He was born and raised in Jerusalem, where he studied composition, conducting, playing the organ at the conservatory (1939-1945). Since the late forties, Duryan toured Europe a lot. Improving with such masters as R. Desormière and J. Martinon, the young musician gave concerts, wrote music imbued with the intonations and images of Armenian songwriting.

It was then that the creative style of the conductor and his artistic inclinations were largely formed. Duryan’s art is full of vivid emotions, stormy temperament, rich imagination. This is manifested both in the interpretation of music and in the external conductor’s manner – catchy, spectacular. He seeks to convey the features of inner impulsiveness, emotionality to the audience not only in the interpretation of romantic composers, but also in the works of classics and contemporary authors.

The true flowering of the conductor’s talent came after he moved to the Soviet Union. For several years he led the symphony orchestra of the Armenian SSR (1959-1964); under his leadership, the group has significantly expanded its repertoire. The last decade was marked in the development of Armenian music by successes in the symphonic genre. And all these achievements were reflected in the performing practice of Duryan, an ardent propagandist of the works of his compatriots. Along with the suites of Spendiarov and the Second Symphony of A. Khachaturian, which have already become classics of Armenian music, he constantly performs the symphonies of E. Mirzoyan, E. Hovhannisyan, D. Ter-Tatevosyan, K. Orbelyan, A. Adzhemyan. The conductor led the symphony orchestra of the Armenian Radio.

Duryan constantly performed with orchestras in many cities of the Soviet Union. This was facilitated by his extensive repertoire. He confirmed his reputation as a mature master with numerous tours in European countries. He established especially close contacts with the famous Gewandhaus orchestra, with which Duryan regularly performed in Leipzig.

L. Grigoriev, J. Platek, 1969