YEREVAN (Itar-Tass)–Lazar Saryan–a prominent Armenian composer–died Wednesday at age of 77. He was born in 1920 into the family of great Armenian painter Martiros Saryan.
A learner from Dmitry Shostakovich and other composers–Lazar Saryan made a great contribution to the development of Armenian and Soviet musical art.
Lazar Saryan was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. In 1955-56 he chaired the Board of the Composers’ Union of Armenia–and in 1960-86 was the rector of Yerevan’s Komitas State Conservatoire. He was awarded the honorary title of People’s Artist of Armenia and the 1983 State Prize of the Republic.
The President–the Parliament and the Government have expressed condolences on the composer’s death.
A government commission has been set up to arrange for his funeral.