Arshak II

Arshak II (Armenian: Արշակ Բ; Italian: Arsace II) is the first Armenian classical opera, composed by Tigran Chukhajian to a libretto by Tovmas Terzian, written first in Italian and then translated into Armenian by the librettist. It was completed in 1868, and parts of it were performed in the following years. It was staged in full for the first time in 1945 at the Yerevan Opera Theater, albeit with a new libretto written by Armen Gulakian, rearrangement of parts of the score, and changes to the instrumentation; correspondingly, music historian Nikoghos Tahmizian calls this version a new edition of the opera. Both librettos are based on the historical accounts (which are mixed with epical elements) of the fourth-century Armenian king Arshak II, written by the classical Armenian historians Movses Khorenatsi and Pavstos Buzand. Arshak II was Chukhajian's debut work and the first Armenian grand opera, which used a large performing ensemble, a symphony orchestra, a chorus, soloists and a brass band. Performers of Arshak's role include Pavel Lisitsian, Mihran Yerkat, and Tigran Levonyan. Participants in the 1945 staging, conductor Mikayel Tavrizyan, director Armen Gulakian, and Shara Talian (Arshak), received the USSR State Prize in 1946. In 1988, Tigran Levonyan directed an opera film of Arshak II, also portraying the lead role. In 2001, it was staged at the San Francisco Opera (SFO), using an Armenian translation of Terzian's Italian libretto and Chukhajian's original score, prepared by Haig Avakian and Gerald Papasian. The SFO production used light designs by Mark McCullough and was directed by Francesca Zambello.

The opera was performed with Terzian's original Italian libretto for the first time at the Yerevan Opera Theater in March 2024.

Text from the Wikipedia article "Arshak II (opera)", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.