Aram Khachaturian

Aram Khachaturian (Armenian: Արամ Խաչատուրյան; June 6, 1903 – May 1, 1978) was a prominent Soviet Armenian composer and conductor.

His works include three symphonies; three piano concertos; a violin concerto; a cello concerto; a number of other orchestral, vocal and chamber works; as well as ballets and film scores. He is also credited with renewing interest in Armenian folk music.

Early Life and Education

Khachaturian was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was then part of the Russian Empire. He started playing the piano at the age of six and entered the Tbilisi Conservatory at the age of 19. He studied composition with Sergei Taneyev and Nikolai Myaskovsky, and graduated in 1934.

Career

Khachaturian's first major success came in 1935 with the premiere of his Piano Concerto in D-flat major. The concerto was an immediate hit, and Khachaturian was soon recognized as one of the leading composers of the Soviet Union.

In the 1940s, Khachaturian composed his two most famous ballets, Gayane and Spartacus. Gayane was premiered in 1942, and Spartacus was premiered in 1956. Both ballets were met with critical and popular acclaim, and they remain two of the most popular ballets in the world today.

In addition to his work as a composer, Khachaturian was also a talented conductor. He made his debut as a conductor in 1936, and he went on to conduct many of the leading orchestras of the world.

Khachaturian was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Stalin Prize (1941, 1943, 1946), the Lenin Prize (1959), and the Order of Lenin (1973). He was also a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1954 to 1974.

Music

Khachaturian's music is characterized by its use of Armenian folk melodies, its colorful orchestration, and its rhythmic vitality. He was also a master of counterpoint and fugue, and his music is often complex and intricate.

Khachaturian's most famous works include:

• Piano Concerto in D-flat major (1935)
• Violin Concerto in D minor (1940)
• Cello Concerto in E minor (1946)
• Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1934)
• Symphony No. 2 in E-flat major (1943)
• Symphony No. 3 in C major (1947)
• Ballet Gayane (1942)
• Ballet Spartacus (1956)

Legacy

Khachaturian is considered to be one of the most important composers of the 20th century. His music is performed all over the world, and he has inspired many other composers. He is also a role model for many Armenian musicians.

Khachaturian died in Moscow in 1978, at the age of 74. He is buried in the Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan, Armenia.