Birth of Manoug Parikian (September 15, 1920)

Manoug Parikian was an accomplished British Armenian violinist and violin teacher of international fame.

Parikian was born on September 15, 1920, in Mersin (Cilicia), to parents from Adana. He lived in Cyprus, where he took his first violin lessons from his paternal uncle Vahan Bedelian, a well-known musician and teacher. He moved to London in 1936, where he studied with Louis Pecsaki at the Trinity College of Music (1936-1939).

He made his debut as a concerto soloist in 1947 in Liverpool and in 1949 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He was concert master of several orchestras: the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (1947-1948), London Philharmonia Orchestra (1949-1957), The English Opera Group Orchestra (1949-1951), and the Yorkshire Sinfonia (1976-1978). He led various chamber ensembles and formed duo partnerships. From 1957 he enjoyed considerable success as a soloist in all European countries, the Middle East and Canada. He also performed in Armenia. In 1976, he formed a piano trio with Bernard Roberts (replaced by Hamish Milne in 1984) and Amaryllis Fleming, which achieved international recognition. He served as Musical Director of the Manchester Camerata (1980-1984). He also performed in three movies: The Centre Show (1950), Music for You (1951), and King of Norway (1970).

Manoug Parikian was an admired teacher of violin at the Royal College of Music in London (1954-1956) and the Royal Academy of Music in London (1959-1987). He was an artist of wide musical sympathies with many first performances to his credit. Many English composers wrote works for him. He also inspired many younger English composers to write major works for violin. He was an exceptionally stylish violinist who produced a tone of remarkable purity and displayed a polished technique. He made many important recordings.

In 1957 he married Diana Carbutt, a musician turned antiquarian bookseller, with whom he had two sons. He died in Oxford on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1987. On the day of his death, BBC2 featured his last solo performance at a prerecorded tribute to master violin-maker Antonio Stradivari. His death of a heart attack was announced after the broadcast.