Death of Bella Darbinian (August 23, 2005)

Between the 1960s and 1980s, Bella Darbinian was at her peak as one of the most well-known singers of Armenia, with her fame firmly established in the Diaspora.   

Bella Darbinian was born on February 10, 1936, in Kirovakan (nowadays Vanadzor). Her actual last name was Kuznetsova (her father was Russian and her mother Armenian). When she started her musical career, she considered more appropriate to use an Armenian name and used the straightforward translation of her surname (Russian kuznets = Armenian darbin-tarpin “blacksmith”).  

She was admitted to the Romanos Melikian musical school in Yerevan (1955) and, after graduation, to the Komitas Conservatory (1959). In 1962 she continued her studies at the studio adjunct to the Great Theater of Moscow, which put her on the track for an operatic career. However, Konstantin Orbelian, director of the Armenian Light Pop Orchestra, convinced the singer to enter the Armenian light pop genre (estradayin). She returned to Yerevan and became soloist of Orbelian’s orchestra (1961-1966). She earned the title of Artist Emeritus of Armenia in 1966 at the age of thirty. In the 1960s, along with Raysa Mekertichian, she was the prima donna of light pop music in Armenia. 

Bella Darbinian became soloist of the Armenian Light Pop Symphonic Orchestra between 1966 and 1996, and during those years he also went to become an esteemed interpreter of popular and troubadour songs. 

She received the state medal of Movses Khorenatsi for her contributions to Armenian culture in 2001. She passed away on August 23, 2005, in Yerevan, from throat cancer.