Prominent Armenians passed away in 2011
World-famed Armenian conductor Ohan Durian died aged 88 on January 6, 2011. Born and raised in Jerusalem, Durian completed his musical education in Europe. In 1957 he moved to Armenia, where soon he assumed his position as Conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Being an oppositionist to the Soviet order he left for Europe where he conducted the orchestras of Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig. Durian was back to Armenia when the country gained independence. He was the conductor of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra till 2000. During the last years of his life, Ohan Durian harshly criticized the acting authorities.
Translator and public figure Anahit Bayandur died at 71 on January 7, 2011. She has translated mostly contemporary works of Armenian literature. Anahit Bayandure had heart problem. She is mostly known as the author of the Russian translations of Hrant Matevosyan's works. In 1992 Anahit Bayandur won the prestigious award named after Olof Palme.
Actress Donara Mkrtchyan, 70, widow of the famous Armenian and Soviet actor Mher Mkrtchyan, died on July 18, 2011. She gained nationwide fame in the Soviet Union after The Captive of the Caucasus comedy where she played with her husband Mher Mkrtchyan. The actress died in Sevan asylum, where she has been for 20 years.
Chairman of the Armenian Central Electoral Committee Garegin Azaryan died at 51 on September 9, 2011. Azaryan was married and had two children. Azaryan died from a heart attack after chairing the CEC for eight consecutive years.
Armenian dancer and choreographer Vanush Khanamiryan died at 84 on October 5. For many years, the legend of Armenian dancer was the Artistic Director of the State Dance Ensemble. He worked as artistic director and was head of the Union of Art of Dance Artists. After the independence he left for the USA where he opened a dance ensemble and returned to Armenia.
Distinguished essayist, writer and translator Karpis Surenyan died at the age of 87 on October 6. Throughout his professional career, Surenyan authored more than 15 books, and thus left for the coming generations a powerful and permanent literary, artistic, intellectual, and philosophical treasure. He translated into Armenian Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.
Many Armenians, who became famous outside their homeland, passed away in 2011, among them sports commentator Georgy Sarkisov, Dr. Jack Gevorkian, human rights activist Yelena Bonner, the wife of late Soviet dissident, academician Andrei Sakharov, composer and songwriter George Movsesian.
