Hear Shostakovich’s quartet in the Dilijan forest where he wrote it in 1964.
In July 1964, Dmitri Shostakovich spent eleven days in a cottage in the woods above Dilijan, writing his String Quartet No. 10. A year later, Benjamin Britten came to the same retreat and set Pushkin’s poems to music. He asked his Russian friends to read the verses aloud and wrote to the sound of their voices.
The retreat was the Composers’ Union resort: pink-stone cottages, each with its own grand piano, hidden in the forests of “Armenia’s Switzerland.” In the 1960s and 70s it welcomed some of the 20th century’s greatest musicians, from Khachaturian to Rostropovich.
On this three-hour walk, you follow the same forest paths with open-ear headphones. At each stop, you hear one movement of the quartet Shostakovich wrote here, while the sounds of the forest stay part of the music. Between stops, your host shares the stories of the place: the football matches Shostakovich refereed by the apple orchard, the thunderstorm he watched from his balcony, and a concert hall whose ceiling was modeled on an Armenian monastery.
The walk ends with herb tea and a moment to share what you heard. No musical knowledge is needed, just curiosity and comfortable shoes.
֏58,000 / person
Duration
6
Group size
2
Meeting point
3 Martiros Saryan St, Yerevan 375002, Armenia
Languages
Armenian, English
Minimum age
18
Itinerary
Meet at Saryan Park
Drive to Dilijan
Arrive at the Composers’ Retreat
Deep in the Forest
Tea or Coffee Reflection in Dilijan
Return to Yerevan
What's part of the experience
Small groups
Tea & pastries
Yerevan transfer
Good to know
The experience starts and ends at Saryan Park, Yerevan. Please arrive by 9:00.
Round-trip transport between Yerevan and Dilijan is included.
The forest walk takes about 3 hours on natural paths with some uphill sections. A moderate level of fitness is needed.
In heavy rain, the listening stops move to a covered location nearby.
Questions guests ask
What time do I need to arrive?
Please arrive by 9:00 at Saryan Park in Yerevan, where the experience starts.
Is transport included?
Yes, round-trip transport between Yerevan and Dilijan is included.
How long is the walk and what's the difficulty level?
The forest walk takes about 3 hours on natural paths with some uphill sections. A moderate level of fitness is needed.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes are essential. No musical knowledge is needed, just curiosity.
What's included in the experience?
The experience includes the guided forest walk with open-ear headphones, tea or coffee, and pastries at the end. Transport from Yerevan is also included.
What happens if it rains?
In heavy rain, the listening stops move to a covered location nearby, so the experience continues.
Can I cancel my booking?
You can cancel free of charge up to 7 days before the experience date.
