Lusine Zakarian was born on The first of June 1937, in Akhaltskha, Javakhk, Georgia. She was an Armenian singer (soprano), and performer of Komitas, Armenian spiritual songs, and verses. She was a soloist with the symphony orchestra of Armenian TV and Radio (1970-1983).
Zakaryan was also known for singing international opera repertoires as well as Armenian traditional and church music. She sang in the Armenian Apostolic Church Holy See choir at the Echmiadzin Cathedral, and it is for her magnificent rendition of centuries-old Armenian spiritual hymns that she is now most remembered.
Lusine left us at the age of 55 on December 30, 1992, in Yerevan, Armenia. She is Buried in Etchmiadzin in the cemetery of the St. Gayane churchyard.
Lusine Zakarian Performing Grunk- Video
Lusine Zakarian Wiki, Bio, Education, Age
“Amenayn Hayots Sokhag” or “All Armenian Nightingale” Lusine Zakaryan, was born Svetlana Zakaryan, on June 1, 1937, in Akhaltsikhe, Georgian SSR, in 1952, in a family of great musicians and showed interest in music from a young age.
She moved with her family to Yerevan, where she attended the secondary music school named Romanos Melikyan. She entered the Yerevan State Musical Conservatory named after Komitas, in 1957.
- Lusine’s maternal grandfather, Iosif Tomaszewicz, of Polish-Armenian origin, was a soloist at the St. Petersburg Imperial Opera House, a bass Profundo with rich vocal abilities, trained in Italy.
- Her Grandmother, Elena Tomashevskaya, was a pianist.
- Her father, Habet Zakaryan, played the bass wind instrument in the symphony orchestra.
- Her mother, Veronika Tomashevskaya, was also gifted with musical abilities.
- Her brother, Davit Zakaryan, was a pianist and accordionist.
- She had a sister, Elena.
- In 1968 married Khoren Palyan, a well-known hymnologist, philologist, and singer, with whose help she delved deeper into Armenian medieval music and spiritual singing.
Lusine Zakarian Museum
The house museum of Lusine Zakaryan was opened to the public in the apartment where she once lived from 1968-1992. Address: Yerevan E. at 42/3 Koghbatsi street.
Lusine Zakarian performing Surb Surb- Video
All you need to know about Lusine Zakarian
| Name | Lusine Zakarian |
| Husband | Khoren Balian |
| Occupation | Soprano |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1937 |
| Place of Birth | Akhaltskha, Javakhk, Georgia |
| Education | Romanos Melikyan Music School, Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan |
| Date of Death | December 30, 1992, at the age of 55 |
| Place of Death | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Albums | Armenian Medieval Spiritual Music, The Holy Voice of Armenia, Komitas |
| Record labels | Hollywood Music Center, DOM |
| Performances abroad | USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Holland, the Soviet Union, and a number of countries in the Middle East… |
| Languages | Armenian, Russian, Ukrainian, English, French, Georgian, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Czech, etc. |
Refusal of Lusine Zakarian’s Request to Sing at Echmiadzin
The Russian-speaking singer asked the first teacher of her school, Hrant Gevorgyan, to allow her to sing in the choir of the cathedral. Maestro turned to Vazgen First Catholicos for the request, but His Holiness’ answer was negative.
However, Hrant Gevorgyan wrote the words of Komitas’ “Ter Oghormea” in Russian letters so that Lusine could learn them.
Lusine’s first performance in the Cathedral was a big surprise for the Catholicos. Impressed by the talent of the newly discovered singer, he immediately ordered them to enroll Lucine in the choir, where she served for the rest of her life.
With the efforts of her teacher and then her husband Kh. Palian, Lusine learned Classical and modern Armenian. She devoted herself to Armenian spiritual music.
Religious Armenian Music During the Soviet Era
The uniqueness of Lusine in Armenian culture was in its historical role. She was able to do what seemed impossible for many years.
Under the conditions of Soviet power, Lusine was able to take our national music out of the church and make it popular. The people accepted the spiritual music, and our medieval hymns just like fresh and life-giving spring air.
Lusine captivated and “captured” the heart of not only Armenian but also foreign listeners. She performed in many concerts abroad, splendidly presenting Komitas, Armenian folk songs, verses, and hymns.
He was regularly accompanied by the world-famous Armenian organist Perch Zhamkochian, in addition to Vahagn Stamboltsyan, and Levon Abrahamyan. Marianna Harutyunyan accompanied her for many years.
Composer A. Babajanyan wrote his “Vocalise” for Lusine Zakarian.
S. Kaputikyan, V. Davtyan, P. Sevak, and foreign poets dedicated poems to her. Thanks to her soulful voice, Lusine Zakaryan’s recordings entered the world music library.
Lusine Zakarian Performances Abroad
In the 1960s and 1970s, she performed as a soloist with the State Academic Choir of Armenia (chief conductor Hovhannes Chekijian) in Moscow, Leningrad, Paris, and Marseille, performing great works.
In the 1960s, she performed as a soloist with the Armenian Chamber Orchestra (chief conductor: Zareh Sahakyants).
She performed in different countries of the world: USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Holland, the Soviet Union, and a number of countries in the Middle East…
She sang in about 15 languages, including Armenian, Russian, Ukrainian, English, French, Georgian, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Czech, etc.
Quotes about Lusine Zakarian
Lucine is not with us now… But we will hear her voice from the sky, there in the sky, a new angel has appeared.
When Lusine sings “Holy-Holy”, all the angels come down to the Holy Ejmiadzin throne in multitudes and glorify God for her singing and the grace given to her from above.
Catholicos Vazgen the First
An incomparable singer, with a brilliant sense of spirituality, who captivated and “captured” the hearts of not only Armenians but also foreigners and presented Komitas, Armenian folk songs, verses, and hymns with glory.
Professor Davit Ghazaryan
