Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra

The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) is an orchestra based in Yerevan, Armenia. It has always been considered as one of the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union. Established in 1925 by Arshak Adamian and Alexander Spendiaryan it is the national center of professional orchestral music in Armenia. Over the years, conductors A. Adamyan, A. Spendiaryan, S. Charekyan, G. Budaghyan, K.

Saradjian, M. Maluntsyan, O. Durian, M.Terian, R. Vartanian, A. Katanyan, D. Khandjian, V. Gergiev, V. Papian, M. Avetisyan and L. Tjeknavorian directed the orchestra.

In October 2000 Eduard Topchjan was appointed the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO.

The ANPO performs concerts at its residence – Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, one of the architectural pearls of Yerevan designed by Alexander Tamanian, and hosts audience of 1300 seats. Being led to the new millennium by Maestro Eduard Topchjan the ANPO is committed to promoting cultural, musical awareness in local audiences, regularly performing classical and operatic music in addition to national and contemporary music.

Since its foundation, the orchestra has performed most of the classical repertoire. Many of the world’s leading artists, such as David Oistrach, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Emil Gilels, Renato Bruson, Steven Isserlis, Misha Mayski, Sergei Nakariakov, Boris Berezovski, Natalia Gutman, Giuseppe Giacomini, Isabelle Faust, Julia Fischer, Pinchas Zukerman, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Placido Domingo and many others, as well as already established and emerging Armenian musicians have appeared with this orchestra.

The ANPO features the works of Armenian and international composers and is committed to supporting the performance of new orchestral works in programs interesting not only for regular visitors and connoisseurs, but also for tourists and young people.

Alexander Melik-Pashayev, Willy Ferrero, and Valery Gergiev conducted the ANPO, the latter holding the position of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for five years from 1981 to 1985.

Gia Kancheli, Sofya Gubaidulina and Rodion Shchedrin closely cooperated with the ANPO. Aram Khachaturian, Dmitry Kabalevsky, Krzysztof Penderecki and the other composers conducted their works with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

The ANPO serves as Ambassador of Armenian music worldwide and tours regularly. Famous Armenian soloists appear with the ANPO, such as Sergei Babayan, Sergey Khachatryan, Narek Hakhnazaryan Isabel Bayrakdarian, Kim Kashkashian and many others. Since 1989 the ANPO has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lebanon, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Greece, Iran, Cyprus, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE. Among the most interesting tours it is noteworthy to mention the tours to Japan in 2008 with 15 concerts, Germany and Slovakia in 2010, in 2014 and 2015 to Italy, Germany, Poland, USA, Mexico and Scandinavian countries. On July 12, 2016 there was a very prestigious concert at the Mariinsky Theatre St.Petersburg, Russia. In 2017 the orchestra toured Spain and Germany.

On November 28, 2018 ANPO performed at the Berliner Konzerthaus with utmost success. In 2020 and 2023 the ANPO appeared in China both with 10 concerts in 9 cities. The tour was organized in collaboration with Wray Armstrong Arts & Entertainment Ltd.

In 2023 the ANPO appeared on a World Tour dedicated to 120th Anniversary of the great Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. The concerts took place in Athens, Thessaloniki, Carnegie Hall in New York, Toronto, Montreal and Boston from November 11 to 21.

On September 20, 2024 the ANPO made a grand opening of the festival in Klagenfurt Musikverein, Austria dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Anton Bruckner. The program included Bruckner’s 9th Symphony and Dvořák’s cello concerto, played by renowned German violinist Daniel Müller-Schott. Further on the tour, the ANPO performed a concert marking the Republic of Armenia’s 33rd anniversary of independence on September 22 at Slovakia’s Bratislava Music Festival. Stanislav Masaryk, a Slovak trumpeter who has won numerous international contests, performed Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto, while Eduard Topchjan conducted Tchaikovsky’s symphonic fantasy “Francesca da Rimini” and Sergei Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2.

Since 2007, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra hosts the annual Yerevan International Music Festival, held every autumn. The 17th edition is due in 2025. Internationally acclaimed soloists participated in the festival editions, appearing in symphonic and chamber concerts and giving master-classes to young Armenian musicians.

More than 40 CDs have been released with the orchestra’s recordings. In the last decade shall be mentioned – the “Armenian Rhapsody” released in 2011 by BIS Records, Sweden, Mozart Piano Concerts and Overtures by Oehms Classics, Germany, in 2014. They were highly acclaimed by international reviewers. In 2017 a special edition CD “Mozart-Komitas-Khachaturian” was released in the United States through Armenia Fund USA (Eastern Region Affiliate), with 10 000 copies print-run.

Next implemented recordings were Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.6 and Khachaturian – Symphony No.2 made by DakApp (Spain), now in post-production. In 2023 BIS Records released “Armenian Cello Concertos” CD featuring Alexander Chaushian.

Since January 2021, within the Beethoven-250 project, the ANPO recorded nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, both audio and video in 4K quality.

In 2025 the ANPO undertook a cooperation within Aznavour 100 anniversary to appear with prominent French and Armenian musicians in Paris at the UNESCO Conference Hall on March 25. The event, titled “Une vie d’amour” (A life of love), was a huge success. 

Many prominent international specialists mention the constantly growing performing level of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra considering itself nuanced sound, impressive string section and charismatic Artistic Director.

Since 2025 the ANPO is represented by Askonas Holt, a company with history dating back over a century, one of the world’s leading arts management companies.