The memorial statue of renowned Armenian late conductor Ohan Durian was inaugurated today in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, in the area near the National Opera and Ballet Academic Theater, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of birth of maestro.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his spouse Anna Hakobyan, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, ministers, other top officials and cultural figures.
In his remarks PM Pashinyan said he was shocked when he saw the photo of the sculpture. “For me, Ohan Durian was just like this. He didn’t look like this on stage. I remember the documentary of Stas Namin about Onan Durian where Durian wears a short-sleeved shirt during the rehearsal. I was shocked by the work and look of his arms, those muscular, impressive arms, because in a tailcoat Durian is not visible and fully understandable”, he said, congratulating the authors of this initiative.
Author of the idea Vahan Vardapetyan called the ceremony “The third return of Ohan Durian”. “1975 – a return to the Soviet Armenia, 1991 – a return to independent Republic of Armenia and today, November 4, 2022, a return to the third or eternal return. A world-renowned conductor, a great citizen and intellectual, but in my own description – the power of the people returned the freest and most independent citizen of Armenia Ohan Durian to the Freedom Square, to the area near the Opera Threater named after A. Spendiaryan”, Vardapetyan said, calling the selection of the location symbolic.
Durian’s widow expressed gratitude to the authors of the initiative. She wished peace to Armenia, wisdom to the people and achievements in cultural and other areas.
The author of the sculpture is Getik Baghdasaryan, the architect is Sahak Safaryan and the author of the glass pedestal Arsen Petrosyan.