Loris Tjeknavorian; Arno Babajanian - Piano Concertos (Armen Babakhanian)

Information

Composer: Loris Tjeknavorian; Arno Babajanian

• Tjeknavorian - Piano Concerto, Op. 4
• Babajanian - Heroic Ballade
• Babajanian - Nocturne

Armen Babakhanian, piano

Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra

Loris Tjeknavorian, conductor

Date: 1998

Label: ASV

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Review

Tjeknavorian’s concerto may have too many notes, but it is endearingly like a pastiche of a Khachaturian concerto, with added dissonances. It opens in this vein, but almost immediately there is a strenuous orchestral tutti, with the piano splashing about wildly in a kind of accompanied toccata. This is not a style with which the more conservative Khachaturian would have been comfortable, until suddenly a rather touching, sinuous Armenian melody arrives, which he would certainly have acknowledged. The pianist gently and thoughtfully soliloquizes on this attractive lyrical idea (without a flexotone, you will be very glad to hear) until he receives some romantic support from the orchestra. A repeated pianissimo solo ostinato (played with remarkable concentration by Babakhanian) then gradually gathers pace and leads to the reprise and a pianistic climax of glittering, even thundering bravura before the orchestra riotously return. The Andante then brings a yearning horn solo and the piano ruminates until the orchestra join him to build a dissonantly lyrical climax. The finale sets out with a clear, syncopated rhythmic pattern, and the orchestra join in rumbustiously. The movement is full of energy, but brings another serenely sinuous lyrical interlude, until the piano throws itself vehemently into the fray; then the raucous orchestral ritornello, with plenty of clangs and bumps from the percussion, becomes dominant for the final straight. The soloist here gives a brilliant performance, with stunning bravura where needed, yet he is quite melting in the lyrical passages. With the composer at the helm providing dashing support from the obviously well-rehearsed Armenian Orchestra it is difficult to think that the work could receive more compelling advocacy and the recording is extremely vivid.

Babadzhanian won a USSR State Prize for his Heroic Ballade, and it opens in the orchestra as if it were going to produce a title-theme for a David Lean movie. But the piano enters gently with a sub-Rachmaninovian melody, with Armenian touches, which is then subject to five variations (a pity they are not indexed) of considerable diversity. The Rachmaninov influences remain strong, but the composer’s eclectic style does not mean that he is not inventive: there are plenty of reflective poetic opportunities for the soloist. The work overall is distinctly enjoyable, with a grandiose final reprise of the tune (Maestoso-Largamente) on the strings and one realizes that it would make a good film theme after all. The Nocturne is not just crossover music – it has already crossed over, for it begins with a gentle rhythm backing, which continues throughout. The piano enters and soon the full strings take up the melody and expand it: cheap music, but as Noel Coward observed, there is nothing more potent. Again, the playing is splendidly enthusiastic (and stylish) and the sound excellent.'

— Ivan March

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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.

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Arno Babajanian (January 22, 1921 – November 11, 1983) was a Soviet and Armenian composer and pianist. He studied at the Yerevan Conservatory and the Moscow Conservatory. From 1950 to 1956 he taught at the Yerevan Conservatory. In 1952, he wrote his Piano Trio, which received immediate acclaim and was regarded as a masterpiece from the time of its premiere. Subsequently, he undertook concert tours throughout the Soviet Union and Europe. Babajanian wrote in various musical genres, including many popular songs in collaboration with leading poets. Much of his music is rooted in Armenian folk music and folklore.

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Armen Babakhanian (born 9 October 1967) is an Armenian pianist. Educated at the Komitas State Conservatory and later mentored by Claude Frank and Vera Gornostayeva, he was a founding member of the Cadence Ensemble. A prizewinner at major international competitions, including Leeds and Van Cliburn, he has performed extensively across Europe, Asia and North America with leading orchestras and conductors. His festival appearances, acclaimed recordings, and international broadcasts have earned wide recognition. Babakhanian is also an active pedagogue, jury member, and professor at the Komitas State Conservatory.

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