Description

GARBIS ZOBIAN (KASTEMUNI, TURKEY, MAY 24, 1915 – NEW YORK, USA, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002)

Zobian, of Armenian origin, experienced significant hardship during the great persecution of the Armenian minority in Turkey between 1914 and 1918, when he and his mother were detained in a concentration camp. They managed to escape to Romania, where Zobian continued his musical education after relocating from Galați to Bucharest in 1944. He graduated from the Bucharest Conservatory in 1948, studying under the renowned Italian tenor Quarto Santarelli.

In 1949, Zobian joined the Bucharest Opera as a soloist, where he had a distinguished career. He was renowned for his Italian heroic repertoire, including roles such as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Canio in Pagliacci, Radames in Aida, Otello, Cavaradossi in Tosca, José in Carmen, and Hermann in Pique Dame. His talent earned him guest appearances at prestigious venues like the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and the Kiev Opera House.

In 1968, Zobian emigrated from Romania to Lebanon and later to the United States, settling in New York. He returned to Romania in 1973 for his final concerts before retirement and made one last visit in 1984 for the “Gloriile Operei” (Opera Glories) show.

TRACKLIST

1. (1. 2. 3.) Otello (Verdi) Gia nella notte densa… Ed tu t’amavi…Venga la morte with Arta Florescu Conductor Egizio Massini, Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Orchestra Operei Romane
2. (4. 5. 6.) Otello (Verdi) Dio ti giocondi, pt 1 and pt 2 with Arta Florescu Egizio Massini, Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Orchestra Operei Romane 1960
3. (7.) Otello (Verdi) Niun mi tema Conductor Egizio Massini, Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Orchestra Operei Romane 1960
4. (8.) Otello (Verdi) Si, pel ciel marmoreo giuro! with Mihail Arnautu Egizio Massini, Orchestra Operei Romane, 1960
5. (9.) Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba Conductor Egizio Massini, Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Orchestra Operei Romane 1960
6. (10.) Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida Conductor Alexander Melik-Pashayev, Moscow, Bolshoi Theater, 1956
7. (11. 12. 13.) Aida (Verdi) Duo… Finale with Maria Voloshescu, Zenaida Pally and Petre Stefanescu-Goanga Moscow, Alexander Melik-Pashayev Bolshoi Theater, 1956