Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall

Located in the heart of Yerevan at 2 Abovyan Street, the Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall is one of Armenia’s most iconic cultural landmarks and home to the State Philharmonia of Armenia, a key institution in the country’s musical life since 1930.

The building, designed by architect Simonson and constructed between 1900 and 1919, has served various civic roles over the past century—including as the National Assembly of the First Republic, the Public Library, and the Yerevan House of Culture. It underwent major reconstructions in 1953, 1961, and 1977 under architects Mark Grigoryan and Edward Srapyan.

Over the years, the hall has welcomed musical legends such as Svyatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, Zara Dolukhanova, and Pavel Lisitsyan, and hosted landmark performances by the newly formed Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra and Komitas National Quartet. It was also the venue for Armenia’s first performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Bach’s Mass in C Minor, and the 1936 memorial service for Komitas, a towering figure of Armenian music.

In 1966, the hall’s staircase was adorned with the stained glass masterpiece “Armenia” by Martiros Saryan, one of the country’s most beloved artists. Since 2005, the venue has carried the name of renowned Armenian composer and pianist Arno Babajanyan.

The main hall seats 300 guests and has been fully renovated with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, meeting the highest international standards. On the lower level, a smaller 60-seat hall, entirely built in red tuff stone, echoes the classical and austere style of ancient Armenian monuments, offering a unique and intimate setting for performances and gatherings.

The venue also hosts regular cultural events and exhibitions in its foyer, serving as a vibrant hub for artistic and civic life in Yerevan.