Aram Khachaturian: an Introduction

This web documentary introduces the life and works of Aram Khachaturian. Conductor Kirill Karabits and Russian music specialist Daniel Jaffé look beyond the Sabre Dance to discover Khachaturian's symphonies and concertos.

Blending his roots in Caucasian folk traditions with Russian and Western models, Khachaturian became a leading composer at the centre of Soviet culture. He suffered a devastating fall from grace when he was denounced in 1948 as a 'formalist' alongside Shostakovich and Prokofieff, but rebuilt his creative life through his last great ballet Spartacus. He remains one of the most colourful, lyrical and rhythmically engaging composers of the 20th century, loved by audiences around the world.

The web documentary is presented by Boosey & Hawkes and G. Schirmer/AMP and is directed by Tommy Pearson of Red Ted Films.

Recordings heard on this video are courtesy of:
Onyx Classics
Chandos Records
Naxos

Video footage is licensed with kind permission from 'Khachaturian', directed by Peter Rosen, produced by the Kuhn Foundation.