Born: Yekaterinodar, Russia on February 16, 1896
Died: Los Angeles, California on January 23, 1978
Active years (recording): 1923 - 1970s
Label Association: Sokhag/Sohag Records

Masha (Marie) Sourabian had an illustrious career on the Armenian stage as an actor and vocalist. She was born in the town of Yekaterinodar, modern day Krasnodar, Russia on February 16, 1896. Her musical training began at the Moscow Conservatory of Music. Masha met and married Armenian actor Setrak Sourabian in 1919, in Tiflis. Together they formed the Hay Dramatic Operet Khoump (Armenian Dramatic Operetta Troupe) and began touring with stops in various Armenian communities with performances in Tiflis, Yerevan, Baku, Smyrna, and Constantinople. 

Masha Sourabian’s recording career was short-lived but influential and well received. 

While performing in allied-occupied Constantinople in 1922, Masha would record two songs for the Orfeon Blumenthal label, Siroun Aghchig and Siroun Karoun. During this time the Sourabians would meet an Armenian businessman from America, Sarkis Sarafian, who would sponsor their migration to the United States. Immediately upon arrival to New York City in 1923, the Sourabian’s would help Sarafian launch Sohag/Sokhag Records. Beginning in 1924 the first ten discs the label would produce and distribute featured Masha and Setrak Sourabian. The records would feature songs from the operetta Arshin Mal Alan (written by Hajibeyov, adapted by Setrak Sourabian) as well as other songs such as, Yerevan Bagh Em Arel, Oror Naziguin and Vart. In this first year of their arrival, the Hay Dramatic Operet Khoump under the leadership of the Sourabian’s would perform popular productions such as, Arshin Mal Alan, Anoush, Aboush, and their repertoire included, Meghastani Ghos eh, Bul Boghi, Areknazan, Astighk and Karem, Chardashi Takouhi’n as well as original and new plays written by Setrak Sourabian. 

Throughout the decades Masha Sourabian was a trailblazer involved in countless Armenian stage productions in nearly every Armenian community throughout the United States and abroad. Based on the overwhelming popularity of their stage productions of Arshin Mal Alan, in 1937 a member of the Sourabian’s acting troupe, Setrag Thomas Vartian would produce a film version of the operetta with Setrak and Masha Sourabian leading the small ensemble cast. After the production of the movie, the Sourabian’s would relocate to Los Angeles and become important contributors to the evolving Armenian theater community of Southern California. Masha along with Zaruhi Elmassian, Azniv Antranik and Virginia Mamoulian would lead and inspire a new generation of actors and entertainers.

On the occasion of Setrak Sourabian’s 40th Jubilee celebration, held in 1954, Masha Sourabian addressed the capacity audience and said of her and her husband’s inspiring careers, “He has made these sacrifices gladly and he has worked willingly,” adding, “and the Armenian theater has been a spiritually satisfying experience. Speaking for myself, if I were to live my life over and were asked what I wanted to be, I would say - without hesitation - an Armenian actress!”

A special thanks to the SJS Charitable Trust for their generous support of our work to digitize and share our collection of 78 rpm records.

Jesse Kenas Collins has been instrumental in the digitization of our collection of 78 rpm records, and Harry Kezelian and Harout Arakelian’s contributions of research and consultation have been critical to assembling the writings presented over the past year. We’d also like to thank Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian for his stewardship of this collection, and to the donors who have entrusted the Museum with these records.