Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)

[foxandpeng]

The 3rd is one of my guilty pleasures, I remember the first time I heard it (on the radio) thinking "this is complete trash, but I love it!" I still can't help feeling I should hate it for some reason, but I really don't. I would love the opportunity to hear it live!

I don't know the other symphonies at all, so must give the 2nd a listen when I have time.

We can be the forum Philistines, promoting the music that everybody else thinks is dreadful.

Wait. Don't I do that already???

Ah, well.

Hurray for Khachaturian.

[Roasted Swan]

We can be the forum Philistines, promoting the music that everybody else thinks is dreadful.

Wait. Don't I do that already???

Ah, well.

Hurray for Khachaturian.

+1 for Khachaturian 3!!

[pjme]

. I would love the opportunity to hear it live!

YT has a few unusual live performances

Japan Gustav Mahler Orchestra cond.by Hisayoshi Inoue: https://youtu.be/2v1B-LoSGN0

Moscow / Pletnev: https://youtu.be/MJGiGmDsbxs

The old Stokowski recording has an atrocious sounding cinema-organ! 

[vandermolen]

What do you think about the symphony 2?

Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Neeme Järvi

Absolutely fabulous! That amazingly intimidating opening!
No. 3 is a guilty pleasure for me too and No.1 is my favourite - but I like them all.

[foxandpeng]

YT has a few unusual live performances

Japan Gustav Mahler Orchestra cond.by Hisayoshi Inoue: https://youtu.be/2v1B-LoSGN0

Moscow / Pletnev: https://youtu.be/MJGiGmDsbxs

The old Stokowski recording has an atrocious sounding cinema-organ! 

Thank you 😊

[Roy Bland]

Moscow to host a concert in honor of the 120th anniversary of the birth of composer Khachaturian
The gala concert of the music festival dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of composer Aram Khachaturian will take place on June 6 at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. P. I. Tchaikovsky. The show will close at the Tula Regional Philharmonic in December, the press service of the organizers said on Wednesday.

"June 6 at 19:00 in the composer's native place, the Great Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky, on the birthday of A. I. Khachaturian, the key event of the festival will take place - his gala concert," the message says.

According to TASS, this evening the audience will hear suites from the ballets Spartacus and Gayane, musical fragments from the play The Valencian Widow and other works by Khachaturian. The main conductor and artistic director of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia Eduard Topchyan and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan will take the stage with the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia named after E.F. Svetlanov.

The press service also said that in the foyer of the conservatory this evening, guests will be presented with a tablet exhibition dedicated to the musician, prepared by the Russian National Museum of Music (RNMM). "The exposition includes musical manuscripts by A. I. Khachaturian, printed editions of notes of his works, programs, posters, photographs, sketches of scenery and costumes for productions based on his compositions," the message says.

Other events of the show

On May 24, at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia (SABT), the ballet "Spartacus" will be shown at the festival, and in May and June there will be a composition competition organized jointly with the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (RAM). "There are two nominations in the competition: toccata and adagio. The chairman of the jury of the competition is a student and assistant of A. I. Khachaturian K. E. Volkov. Jury members: G. Pelecis, O. B. Harris, V. B. Dovgan, V. G Kikta, A.I. Mikita," the press service said.

The tablet exhibition, as the organizers noted, dedicated to the composer, will be presented in all places of the festival events, and its opening will take place on May 20 at the RAM. The organizers also said that the filming of a documentary film is planned for the summer of 2023. "Khachaturian in the memories of his students (A. Rybnikov, K. Volkov, G. Pelecis, T. Shakhidi) and his son (K. Khachaturian). The film will become a unique historical video document: it will convey to many generations the memories of Khachaturian, a teacher and a man, shared by his students and relatives," the message reads.

The review will close on December 2 at the Tula Regional Philharmonic. This evening, the guests will be presented with a concert with the participation of the Tula Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yu. I. Simonov.

Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) - People's Artist of the USSR, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, conductor. Author of three ballets, three symphonies, six concertos, a huge number of works of vocal, choral, instrumental and program music, music for films and theatrical productions. Khachaturian - Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the Lenin Prize, four Stalin Prizes and the State Prize of the USSR. He was a graduate and honorary professor of the Moscow Conservatory.

[Roy Bland]

[Karl Henning]

@vandermolen may likely take an interest.

[Roy Bland]

[Maestro267]

+1 for Khachaturian 3!!

Same here! There's billions of normal pieces of music in the world. Just let us have these brilliantly over-the-top bombastic works too!

[Roasted Swan]

Same here! There's billions of normal pieces of music in the world. Just let us have these brilliantly over-the-top bombastic works too!

Good taste is over-rated...!!

[kyjo]

Khachaturian's Violin Concerto is one of my favorite works of all-time - it's simply irresistible to me in its nonstop flow of memorable tunes, exotic coloring, and virtuosic writing. So, imagine my disappointment when I discover that his later Concerto-Rhapsody for violin and orchestra (1961) is a totally dull work (to my ears), completely lacking any of the charm or melodic allure of the earlier concerto:



I can't fault the performance here, as it sounds fine to my ears. But I wasn't able to listen to the piece for more than 6 or 7 minutes before switching it off! I certainly don't have high hopes for his other two Concerto-Rhapsodies for cello and piano, which are also from the 1960s. Khachaturian seems to be one of those composers whose well of inspiration dried up in his later years. In fact, I can't say I know a single inspired composition of his dating past 1954 (when Spartacus was completed), and he lived until 1978. But I'd happily be proven wrong...

[Roasted Swan]

Khachaturian's Violin Concerto is one of my favorite works of all-time - it's simply irresistible to me in its nonstop flow of memorable tunes, exotic coloring, and virtuosic writing. So, imagine my disappointment when I discover that his later Concerto-Rhapsody for violin and orchestra (1961) is a totally dull work (to my ears), completely lacking any of the charm or melodic allure of the earlier concerto:



I can't fault the performance here, as it sounds fine to my ears. But I wasn't able to listen to the piece for more than 6 or 7 minutes before switching it off! I certainly don't have high hopes for his other two Concerto-Rhapsodies for cello and piano, which are also from the 1960s. Khachaturian seems to be one of those composers whose well of inspiration dried up in his later years. In fact, I can't say I know a single inspired composition of his dating past 1954 (when Spartacus was completed), and he lived until 1978. But I'd happily be proven wrong...

7 minutes? - you did well!  In all seriousness you are spot on right about the fall-off in inspiration in the later works where effort replaces colour and formulaic processes, melody.  There is a good natured freshness to the earlier works that seems to evaporate in the later ones - health warning:  all 3 Concerto-rhapsodies suffer the same malaise - save your ears!!

[Symphonic Addict]

The Concerto-Rhapsodies are not in the same level of inspiration of his proper concertos, that's for sure. I like them and much more than his Symphony No. 3, nonetheless. The Concerto-Rhapsody for violin and orchestra is more given to lyricism, so pyrotechnics and virtuoso elements have less prominence. The one for piano and orchestra does exhibit a more extroverted and fun spirit, and the one for cello and orchestra has a more serious character.

[Roy Bland]

IMHO Khachaturian is better when it remains linked to native folklore and in ballet.for instance i like more Rampal version of the concerto than original

[Symphonic Addict]

IMHO Khachaturian is better when it remains linked to native folklore and in ballet.for instance i like more Rampal version of the concerto than original

Yes, Gayaneh has the best music in that regard.

I haven't heard that version for flute and orchestra yet.

[Roy Bland]

Yes, Gayaneh has the best music in that regard.

I haven't heard that version for flute and orchestra yet.

I've spoken of violin concerto adapted for flute by Rampal.IMHO it's less dull and heavily orchestrated and more dynamic
Also  Masquerade (complete version) is a masterwork Regarding symphonies i prefer First:"Bells"  has a good evocative power of war but the movements doesn't seems very linked to each other and Third was written for duty.Is there an integral of "Valencia's widow"? If i remember correctly Dudarova'cd was a suite.

[kyjo]

The Concerto-Rhapsodies are not in the same level of inspiration of his proper concertos, that's for sure. I like them and much more than his Symphony No. 3, nonetheless. The Concerto-Rhapsody for violin and orchestra is more given to lyricism, so pyrotechnics and virtuoso elements have less prominence. The one for piano and orchestra does exhibit a more extroverted and fun spirit, and the one for cello and orchestra has a more serious character.

I must admit to rather enjoying his Third Symphony when I'm in the mood - I mean, surely there were even more bombastic, vapid works of Socialist Realism written in the mid-20th century than that work. It certainly isn't on the level of his first two symphonies, of course. Speaking of which, his underrated First Symphony could really use a fine modern recording...

Thanks for your descriptions of the other Concerto-Rhapsodies. Perhaps I might enjoy the one for piano...?

[Le Buisson Ardent]

For those who believe Khachaturian to be all bombast and no substance, I point you to these two releases:



Two truly gorgeous releases that are worth hearing.

[kyjo]

For those who believe Khachaturian to be all bombast and no substance, I point you to these two releases:



Two truly gorgeous releases that are worth hearing.

Indeed, John. I wish Khachaturian had composed more chamber music - a few string quartets, piano trios, cello sonatas, etc. would've been nice...