Khachaturian Karen

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 24 July 2011

Born

19 September 1920 in Moscow. Died 19 July 2011.

Biography

Armenian composer.
He studied under Shebalin, Shostakovich and Miaskovsky at the Moscow Conservatory (1945-49), where he was later (1952) appointed senior lecturer in instrumentation.
He has taken an active part in the former USSR Composers' Union and he holds the title Honoured Art Worker of the RSFSR.

Style

His music is marked by a high degree of professionalism, sincere expressive depth and subtlety of taste. In later works, notably the oratorio 'A Moment of History', dedicated to Lenin's memory, the arsenal of the methods has expanded towards greater variety, freshness and sharpness.

Works

Sonata for violin and piano in G minor opus 1 (1947)
Movements:
1. Allegro-Meno mosso
2. Andante
3. Presto - Andantino - Tempo I - Piu mosso
LP Melodiya D 15353-4: A. Mikhlin (violin), A. Katz (piano)
LP Melodiya C10 19903 008: A. Mikhlin (violin), T. Kvernadze (piano)
CD Russian Disc RDCD 10001: Levon Ambartsumian (violin), Anatoly Sheludyakov (piano)
CD EMI Classics 2 14712 2 (17 CD-set): David Oistrakh (violin), Vladimir Yampolsky (piano)
CD Testament 1113: David Oistrakh (violin), Vladimir Yampolsky (piano) (Rec: 1955)
CD 31 0354-2: Leonid Kogan (violin), Karen Khachaturian (piano)
Suite for orchestra (1948)

In Mongolia, children's suite for orchestra (1948)

Blossom and Prosper, Youth, cantata on lyrics by Kupala, Lebedev-Kumach, Dostal (1948)

Sinfonietta (1949)

Youth Overture (1949)

By a Solitary Widow, cantata, lyrics by Pisiansky (1950)

Symphony no. 1 in A minor (1955)

Movements:
1. Adagio
2. Allegretto (Scherzo)
3. Andantino
4. Final. Agitato. Allegro energico

LP Melodiya D 012497-8: Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
LP Melodiya C 0687-8: Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)

The New Year's Fir, children's suite for orchestra (1951)

Friendship, overture for orchestra (1959)

The Simple Girl, operetta after V. Shkvarkin (1959)

Sonata for cello and piano (1966)

Movements:
1. Recitativo (Adagio)
2. Inventio (Allegretto)
3. Aria (Andante)
LP Melodiya CM 03443-4: D. Geringas (cello), K. Khachaturian (piano)
LP Melodiya C 1005329 005: Victoria Yagling (cello), Karen Khachaturian (piano)
CD EMI Classics 5 72295 2: Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Karen Khachaturian (piano)
CD EMI 572016-2 (13 CD-set): Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Karen Khachaturian (piano)
Symphony no. 2 (1968)
Movements:
1. Andante Sostenuto
2. Allegro Molto

LP Melodiya D 029007-8: Radio Orchestra, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
LP Melodiya C10 14143-44: USSR State Academic SO, A. Lazarev (cond)

String Quartet (1969)
LP Melodiya C10 19903 008: E. Alichanova, B. Alykova, T. Kochanovskaya, O. Olranovits
A Moment of History, oratorio for narrator, chorus and orchestra (1971)
LP Melodiya C10 14143-44: USSR State Academic SO, State Academic Russian Chorus, A. Lazarev (cond)
Cippolino, fairy-tale ballet after G. Rodari in three acts and five scenes (1973)
First performance in 1973 in the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow.
LP Melodiya 2 LP-set
Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra (1974)

Introduction and Fugue for organ (1976)

Children's music for piano (1978)

Trio for violin, horn and piano (1981)

LP Melodiya C10 19903: B. Afanashev (french horn), A. Michlin (violin), T. Kvernadze (piano)
Symphony no. 3 (1982)
In one movement.
LP Melodiya C10 23873 003: USSR SO, V. Sinaisky (cond)
Concerto for cello and orchestra (1983)
In one movement.
LP Melodiya C10 23873 003: USSR SO, V. Sinaisky (cond), V. Sarajan (cello)
Twelve pieces from 'Cippolino' for piano 4-hands (1983)

String Trio (1984)

Epitaph for string orchestra and percussion (1986)

Symphony no. 4 (1991)

And furthermore: music for the theatre and cartoon films, music for children

Thanks to Robert Avak

Please send your comments

Return to Onno van Rijen's Soviet Composer's Page

Return to Onno van Rijen's Home Page