Lyric Picture "Shushanik"

Mirzoyan’s most lyrical symphonic piece, written for the Armenian film Chaos and later
transcribed for chamber orchestra, string quartet, piano trio, and cello quartet.

Edvard Mirzoyan felt a natural affinity for film music. The genre’s inherent limitations did not deter his urge to speak, through a clear and accessible musical language, about what matters most in life: human emotion. It is no coincidence that some of his most enduring works emerged in this context—music that transcended the screen and developed into lyrical reflections on the human condition. His score for the film Chaos (1973) unfolds like a cascade of emotion, overwhelming even the composer himself.

The lyrical piece Shushanik, imbued with quiet intensity, was inspired by the presence of actress Alla Tumanyan in the title role. Composed in a matter of hours, it remains one of Mirzoyan’s most celebrated works. Here, opposites converge: overflowing emotion meets utmost restraint—an essential hallmark of his musical voice. Shushanik became his signature, a symbol of profound beauty that continued to resonate throughout his oeuvre.

This is evident even in his later works, such as the choral composition completed in 2009, based on a text by Shnorhali, in which the theme of Shushanik reverberates throughout the score.