Alexander Spendiaryan House-Museum, Kotayk Travel Guide

The Alexander Spendiaryan House-Museum, located at 21 Nalbandyan Street in Yerevan, is dedicated to the life and work of Alexander Spendiaryan, a prominent Armenian composer and conductor who is considered the founder of Armenian symphonic music. The museum is housed in one of Yerevan's first apartment buildings of the Soviet era, where Spendiaryan lived from 1926 to 1928. The building itself is recognized as a historical and cultural monument of republican significance.Founded in 1963 and opened to the public in 1967, the museum was the first of its kind in Armenia dedicated to a musician. The museum's collection comprises over 1,340 items, including Spendiaryan's personal belongings, handwritten scores, letters, photographs, and documents. Visitors can explore three exhibition rooms that showcase different aspects of the composer's life and work. One room is dedicated to Spendiaryan's personal artifacts, while another features his compositions, including manuscripts of the opera "Almast". Spendiaryan's studio has been preserved to appear as it did during his lifetime.The museum also features the "Spendiarophone", a unique musical instrument created by Spendiaryan in 1905. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to try their hand at conducting and immerse themselves in Spendiaryan's musical world. Literary evenings and concerts are regularly held at the museum, and it participates in Yerevan's annual "Museum Night" event, offering free admission and serving cocoa made according to the composer's recipe.The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, with varying hours. Admission is 700 AMD for adults, with discounts for students. Excursion fees are also available for guided tours in Armenian, Russian, and English.