Karen Surenovich Khachaturian (russian: Карэн Суренович Хачатурян, hy, Կարեն Խաչատրյան) (Moscow, 19 September 1920 – Moscow, 19 July 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. His studies 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 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throug ...

and Nikolai Myaskovsky. In addition to a 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 and films. 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 artists including David Oistrakh, Jascha Heifetz,

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered by many to be the greatest cellist of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was wel ...

, and

Vladimir Yampolsky Vladimir Yampolsky (1905–1965) was a Soviet pianist who served as David Oistrakh David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (; – 24 October 1974), was a Soviet classical violinist, violist and conductor. Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras a ...

. A recording of the opening of his first symphony was played in a lecture-demonstration given at the University of Warwick during the first academic year in which it had undergraduates (1965–1966), by

Geoffrey Bush Geoffrey Bush (23 March 1920 – 24 February 1998) was a British composer, teacher and music scholar. Largely without formal training in composition, he produced a wide range of compositions across different genres, including many songs and wor ...

Works

* String trio for violin, viola, and cello * Violin 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

. First performed January 10, 1967 *

String quartet The term string quartet can refer to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two violinists ...

. *Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano () *4 symphonies (as noted above) * ''Viy'' * Cipollino, ballet in 3 acts (1973)

Awards

Khachaturian was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class (2007), the Order of Honour (2000) and the Order of Friendship (1995). He was awarded the title People's Artist of the RSFSR (1981) and the USSR State Prize (1976, for the ballet "Cipollino") and the

State Prize of the Russian Federation The State Prize of the Russian Federation, officially translated in Russia as Russian Federation National Award, is a state honorary prize established in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates ...

(2001). He also received the Diploma of the Russian Federation PresidentРаспоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 6 марта 2011 года № 128-рп «О поощрении»
(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).

References

External links

1920 births 2011 deaths 20th-century classical composers 20th-century Russian male musicians 21st-century classical composers 21st-century Russian male musicians Musicians from Moscow Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Moscow Conservatory alumni Moscow Conservatory academic personnel People's Artists of the RSFSR Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia) Recipients of the USSR State Prize State Prize of the Russian Federation laureates Pupils of Nikolai Myaskovsky Russian people of Armenian descent Russian film score composers Russian male classical composers Russian male composers Russian music educators Soviet film score composers Soviet male classical composers Soviet male composers Soviet music educators Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery {{Armenia-composer-stub