A.Khachaturian. Concerto for piano and orchestra

Every year on June 6, on the birthday of Aram Ilyich Khachaturian, the International Competition named after him opens in Yerevan. Young musicians from around the world take part in it. In 2023, the year of the composer's 120th anniversary, the competition was opened to pianists. And at the closing ceremony, Khachaturian's Piano Concerto was performed by the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan, and Arina Antonosyan, piano.

The Piano Concerto was written in 1936. It was the first of three concerts by the composer. Its premiere took place in Moscow on July 12, 1937, performed by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Lev Steinberg, with Lev Oborin playing the piano. The orchestra had only one rehearsal. The venue was an open-air stage in Sokolniki Park. During the performance, a strong wind blew off Steinberg's glasses, so he could no longer see the score and was forced to conduct the rest of the piece from memory. Nevertheless, this piece brought worldwide recognition to the composer and entered the repertoire of many pianists.

PERFORMERS:

Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

Conductor - Sergey Smbatyan

Piano - Arina Antonosyan

WORKS:

A.Khachaturian. Piano Concerto in D-flat major, Op. 38

Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Yerevan, 2023