Karen Khachaturian

Karen Surenovich Khachaturian (Russian: Карэн Суренович Хачатуря́н, Armenian: Կարեն Խաչատրյան) (September 19, 1920 – July 19, 2011) was a Soviet and Russian composer of Armenian ethnicity and the nephew of composer Aram Khachaturian.

Khachaturian was born in Moscow, the son of Suren Khachaturian, a theatrical director. He studied under Genrikh Litinsky at the Moscow Conservatory were interrupted by a term of duty in the entertainment division of the Red Army. Resuming his studies in 1945, he worked with Dmitri Shostakovich and Nikolai Myaskovsky.

In addition to the Violin Sonata (1947), his works include a Cello Sonata (1966), a String Quartet (1969), four symphonies (1955, 1968, 1982, 1991) and a ballet, Cipollino (1973), as well as various other orchestral works and music for the theater.

Rhythmic drive and a careful and idiomatic use of his instrumental forces characterize his compositions. He adopted a primarily tonal approach to composition. His works have been recorded by some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including David Oistrakh, Jascha Heifetz, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Vladimir Yampolsky.

Works

• String trio for violin, viola, and cello
• Sonata, in G minor, Op. 1 composed in 1947. (for Leonid Kogan) - recorded by J. Heifetz and L. Steuber for RCA Victor Gold in 1966. n. of disc is - (GD87872)
• Cello Sonata, dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich. First performed January 10, 1967
• Previous National Anthems of Somali (1972) and Zanzibar (1964)

Film Scores

• 100 gramm dlya khrabrosti (1976)

... aka 100 грамм для храбрости (Soviet Union: Russian title)

• Okovani soferi (1975)

... aka Edinstvennaya doroga (Soviet Union: Russian title)

• Strannye lyudi (1969)

... aka Strange People (International: English title: informal literal title)

• Viy (1967)

... aka Вий (Soviet Union: Russian title) ... aka Viy or Spirit of Evil (USA: DVD title)

• Vystrel (1966)

... aka A Pistol Shot

• Sem nyanek (1962)

... aka Семь нянек (Soviet Union: Russian title)

• Visokosnyy god (1962)

... aka Високосный год (Soviet Union: Russian title) ... aka Leap Year

• Bolshaya doroga (1962)

... aka The Great Road ... aka Velká cesta (Czechoslovakia)

• Zhdite pisem (1960)

... aka Ждите писем (Soviet Union: Russian title) ... aka Wait for Letters (International: English title: informal literal title)

• Kogda zazhigayutsya yolki (1950)
• Zheltyy aist (1950)

... aka The Yellow Stork (International: English title)

Awards

Khachaturian was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class (2007), the Order of Honour (Russian Federation) (2000) and the Order of Friendship (1995). He was awarded the title Peoples Artist of the RSFSR (1981) and the USSR State Prize (1976, for the ballet "Cipollino") and the Russian Federation State Prize (2001). He also received the Diploma of the Russian Federation President (March 6, 2011 - for great contribution to the development of national culture and the many years of creative activity) and the Moscow City Hall prize (1999).

External links

• Profile from International Music Publishers Hans Sikorski in English