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 OPERA is a musical-dramatic art form. It was formed in XVI-XVII centuries, in Italy. "Arshak II" is the first Armenian national classical opera written by Tigran Tchouhajian in Constantinople, 1868. Tigran Tchouhadjian wrote operettas and comic operas as well. Komitas was deeply interested in operas. “Shushan” opera (unfinished) by Ch. Kara-Murza was based on rural theme and national melodiousness.

At the beginning of the XX century the following operas were written “Anoush” by V. Sargsyan, “Anoush”, “Artavasdes II” by E. Baghdasaryan,  “Harem” by S. Demuryan, etc.. “The End of Evil” by A. Manukyan, “Dragonfly and Ant” by M. Mirzoyan, “Child from the Forest” by E. Baghdasarayn, “Naughty Mikich”  by A. Mayilyan, “The Fairy Tales of Grandmother Gulnaz” and other  children’s operas were staged at schools of Yerevan, Tiflis and  Baku. New Armenian operas were written in 1920’s, such as “Seda” by A. Ter-Ghevondyan (1921), “Almast” by A. Spendiaryan (1928), In this period many children’s operas were written too, such as, “Brother Lamb” (1924), “Chicк” (1926).

Class of opera   was opened in Yerevan Conservatory in 1927. “Almast” by A. Spendiaryan played a significant role in the history of Armenian opera. Its was the first performance staged in Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Yerevan.  “Anoush” opera by A. Tigranyan, “Nazar the Brave” by H. Stepanyan (1935), “Taparnikos” by A. Ayvazyan (1938) were staged in Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Yerevan.

 “At Dawn” by H. Stepanyan (1938), “Heroine” (1950), “Coral” by K. Zakaryan (1941), “Arshak II” by T, Tchoudadjian,  “Namus” by L. Khoja-Eynaytyan (1945), “Sun Beams” by A. Ter-Ghevondyan (1949), “Davit Bek” by A. Tigranyan (1950), “Sos and Varditer” by V. Tigranyan, “Artsvaberd” by A. Babyev (1957), “Bonfire” by Yu. Gevorgyan (1959), “Khachatur Abovyan” by G. Armenyan (1960), “Downfall” (1968), “Fire ring” by A. Terteryan (1967), “Sayat-Nova” by A. Harutyunyan (1969) were staged in the Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Yerevan  as well.

In 1970-80  many Armenian operas were written such as, “Fairy Tale for the Elder” (1970), “The Legend” by G. Hakhinyan (1970), “Tsovinar” (1973), “The Stranger” by V. Babayan (1970), “Gikor” by S. Jrbashyan (1974), “David of Sassoun” by E. Hovhannisyan (1976), “Polar Lights”  by Yu. Gevorgyan (based on “Wounds of Armenia” by Khachatur Abovyan, 1976), “Mokats Mirza” folk-opera-ballet by E. Yerkanyan (1978), “Shushanik” (1980), “Hello Out There” by E. Sadoyan (based on the homonymous play by W. Saroyan, 1982), “The Tree of Life” (1985). During this period many children’s operas were written too, such as “The Death of Kikos” by V. Achemyan (staged in 1980, 1990), “Pepush” by H. Dellalyan (1984), etc. 

There were many operas written in 1990’s: “Hamlet” by V. Babayan (1990), “The Concubine” by A. Babayan (based on the homonymous poem by D. Varouzhan, 1991), “Christ” by D. Sakoyan (1994), “Hripsime” (1997), “The Prayer of Narekatsi, Love of Kuchak, Light of Sevak” (1990), “Love Island” by G. Armenyan (based on the play by Levon Shant, 2001), etc.

The variety of genres and forms  (monumental, historic, epic, chamber-lyrical, everyday etc.), ideas and structures are typical to the Armenian opera art. One of  the main features of the Armenian opera is the unique musical language of composers. 

Source-"Armenian Brief Encyclopedia", volume IV, chieff editor H. Ayvazyan, Yerevan, 2003, 924-925 p (Arm.)