Kocharian, Suren Akimovich

Born Aug. 23 (Sept. 5), 1904, in Tbilisi. Soviet variety performer; professional reciter. People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR (1945); People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1967).

Kocharian studied at the Moscow Armenian School of Drama (1921-25). From 1925 to 1932 he acted with the G. Sundukian Armenian Theater in Yerevan, playing nearly 40 roles. In 1939 he joined the Moscow Philharmonic Society. He has arranged more than 30 literary readings, including the cycles Treasures-of World Literature, Armenian and Russian Classics, and Works by Soviet Writers. Kocharian’s readings from literary epics (Vladimir II’ich Lenin by Mayakovsky, The Man in Panther’s Skin by Rustaveli, The Odyssey by Homer, and Shakhrazad, based on A Thousand and One Nights) were important contributions to the development of the genre. He has been awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1951), the Order of the Badge of Honor, and medals.