World renowned musical conductor Ohan Dourian passed away at the age of 88 in Yerevan early on January 6. During his life, Dourian performed with 110 orchestras around the world. Dourian, who was born in Jerusalem, emigrated to Soviet Armenia in the 1950’s at the invitation of then Catholicos Vazgen I. He later fled Soviet Armenia for Europe due to artistic restrictions. After Armenia gained independence in the early 1990’s, Maestro Dourian returned to Armenia and served as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the "Ohan Durian" Radio&TV Symphony Orchestra founded by him, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Yerevan Opera Theatre. He directed Moscow Symphonic Orchestra of Stas Namin Center in 2002-2006 after being forced to resign by various Armenian government circles who argued Dourian was too old. Maestro Dourian was a vocal critic of recent Armenian governments.