Armenak Shahmuradyan (also spelled Chah-Mouradian or Shah-Mouradian, April 7, 1878, Muş, Ottoman Empire – September 14, 1939, Paris), also known as the bard of Daron,Harvard Armenian Texts and Studies - 1983, vol. 7, p. 103 was an Armenian operatic tenor. He is one of the outstanding representatives of Komitas's school. Shahmuradyan is well known for the performance of "Krunk", "Antuni", "Garun a", "Hayastan", "Kilikia" and other Armenian songs.
Biography Shahmuradyan studied at Gevorgian Seminary of Echmiadzin where he met Komitas. In 1910 he finished the Paris Conservatory of Music, where he attended the classes of Pauline Viardot. He debuted at Grand Opera with Faust in 1910. He gave concerts in many countries including USA, Britain, Belgium, Iran, India, etc. Since 1930 Shahmuradyan lived in Paris and died in a psychiatric clinic in 1939. William Saroyan dedicated a poem to him.Saroyan: A Biography - p. 211, by Lawrence Lee, Barry Gifford - 1998 In his "Obituaries" Saroyan wrote: "Shah-Mouradian was "one of the truly great tenor-baritones of all time, somewhat like John McCormack, a star in Paris and New York, and around the world in opera".Obituaries, by William Saroyan - 1979- p. 78
Discography The Voice of Komitas Vardapet (recorded in 1912 in Paris). Traditional Crossroards, 1995, USA. The Voice of Armenia. Vol 1. SomeWax Recordings, 2004
References
External links Biography