Aram Khachaturian - Piano Concerto; Dance Suite (Dora Serviarian-Kuhn; Loris Tjeknavorian)

Information

Composer: Aram Khachaturian

• Piano Concerto in D flat major
• Waltz for wind band
• Polka for wind band
• Dance Suite

Dora Serviarian-Kuhn, piano

Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra

Loris Tjeknavorian, conductor

Date: 1995

Label: ASV

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

Easily the finest account of Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto since Moura Lympany’s pioneering recording under Fistoulari (Decca, 3/53 – nla), this new version on ASV is the one to have. Dora Serviarian-Kuhn and her Armenian compatriot, Loris Tjeknavorian are in every way first-class: both identify naturally with the sinuous oriental flavour of the melodic lines and understand – as did Lympany and, in America in 1946, William Kapell (RCA, 5/95) – that the outer movements need above all to convey thrusting vitality. (Remember that the first Moscow performance – which delighted the composer – was by the Russian virtuoso, Lev Oborin.) Here there is plenty of drive and rhythmic lift in the outer movements. But what primarily makes this performance memorable is Serviarian-Kuhn’s sense of fantasy, so that her various cadential passages, for all their brilliance, are charismatically quixotic rather than just bravura displays. The recording projects the piano with a bright, clean treble and the orchestral sound is somewhat lean-textured, which adds an appropriate edge to the reading.

The other works which accompany the Piano Concerto on ASV are very small beer. The “Waltz” for wind band has an engaging carousel flavour; the somewhat vulgar “Polka” which follows roisterously suggests the circus. The Dance Suite goes through the usual Khachaturian routines with which he likes to clothe his agreeable but at times rather insubstantial Armenian folk ideas. Easily the most memorable movement is the first and much the longer of the two Uzbek dances, which begins and opens gently and touchingly: the reprise, with its haunting cor anglais solo, has a genial Nordic feeling. The closing “Lezghinka”, too, is rather jolly, but repetitive. Excellent performances, vividly projected.'

— Ivan March

-----------------------------------------------------------

Aram Khachaturian (6 June 1903 – 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenian composer and conductor. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, he studied at the Gnessin Musical Institute and the Moscow Conservatory with Nikolai Myaskovsky, among others. As a young composer, he was influenced by contemporary Western music, particularly that of Maurice Ravel. In his Symphony No. 1 and later works, this influence was supplanted by a growing appreciation of folk traditions. His other works include Symphonies No. 2 & No. 3, the symphonic suite Masquerade, the ballet Spartacus, concertos, as well as film scores and incidental music.

***

Dora Serviarian-Kuhn is widely regarded as a leading interpreter of Aram Khachaturian's Piano Concerto, which she has performed globally more frequently than any other living pianist. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she earned a B.A. in Performance from the Eastman School of Music and an M.A. in Piano from the University of Southern California. Serviarian-Kuhn has appeared with major orchestras across the United States, Asia and Latin America, including the Armenian Philharmonic and the National Philharmonic of Russia. She also created and executive-produced an award-winning documentary on Khachaturian's life and music.

***

Loris Tjeknavorian (born 13 October 1937) is an Iranian Armenian composer and conductor. Born in Boroujerd, Iran, to an Armenian‑immigrant family, he pursued advanced musical studies at the Vienna Academy of Music, the Salzburg Mozarteum with Carl Orff, and the University of Michigan. As a conductor, Tjeknavorian has toured extensively across Europe, the Americas and beyond, conducting leading orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera. His compositional output exceeds sixty works, including symphonies, operas, chamber music and ballet.

-----------------------------------------------------------