Few people know, but Konstantin Orbelyan (July 29, 1928 – April 24, 2014) was a descendant of the princely dynasty of Orbelyans that used to reign in Syunik back in the days. Aside from that, he was the father of the Armenian and Soviet jazz music.
Orbelyan’s parents have been subjected to severe Stalinist oppression. His nephew Constantine Orbelian now continues the uncle’s work. Constantine today lives in the United States and is the artistic director of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Armenia.
Additionally, since 2014, he has been the chief conductor of the Kaunas Symphony Orchestra in Lithuania. Considered one of the best conductors of the world, Constantine was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014.
Constantine’s father Harry Orbelian has in turn been the president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Harry found out about the existence of his brother Konstantin by chance after watching a Soviet film.
In 1992, Konstantin left the Soviet Union for the city of Los Angeles where he would pass away in 2014.
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The Approaching Storm by Chicago Transit Authority
“The Approaching Storm” by the State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia (1976)
В вашем доме. Константин Орбелян
