ALEXANDER SPENDIARIAN - ALMAST OPERA

In 1916 Spendiarian met Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanian, who suggested three of his poems “Anush“, “Parvana“ and “The Siege of the Tmbouk Castle“ as themes for a nationalArmenian opera. Spendiaryan listened to the prelude of the last poem and was immediately attracted by its beauty. According to Tumanian’s daughter, he was fascinated by Firdousi’s poem in the banquet scene, by Tatoul’s nightmare, and by the ambitious Almast - who dreamed of winning the throne. Tumanian also organized special musical evenin