Washington post

Ruben Vartanyan; Conductor Defected From Soviet Union

Ruben Vartanyan, an orchestra conductor who defected from the Soviet Union in 1988 and spent the past 20 years in Northern Virginia, leading the Arlington Philharmonic and other ensembles, died May 7 of a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in Arlington County. He was 71. Dr. Vartanyan arrived in Arlington after an early career in which he seemed poised for international success. (11/05) More