Dikran Tchouhadjian

Tigran Chukhajyan (also: Tschuchadshjan or Chukhajyan, Armenian Տիգրան Չուխաճեան; * 1837 in Constantine Opel, † March 11, 1898 in Smyrna ) was an Armenian opera composer.

Chukhajyan was the founder of the first institution for opera in the borders of the Ottoman Empire, which he founded in the 1860s. Due to the political situation in Armenia in the 19th century, it was based heavily on European standards in his works. Chukhajyan contributed significantly to the fact that the typical European opera was proliferation in the inhabited areas of Armenians of the Ottoman Empire. Through his influence in the artistic field caused Chukhajyan, who was no friend of the Turkish rule, that developed national consciousness and pride in Armenian art.

He is regarded by his opera Arshak II, when the actual inventor of the Armenian opera. This opera was composed in 1868, but only rediscovered in the 20th century and first performed in 1945 in Yerevan.

Another of his operas, Leblebiji Hor -Hor Agha of 1875, only found out on December 25, 2004 in the United States its first performance by the Ardavazt Theatre Company and the Lark Musical Society.