Alexander Arutiunian

Alexander Arutiunian was born in Yerevan, Armenia on September 23, 1920 in the family of a military serviceman.
His music studies started in 1927 within the Yerevan State Conservatory’s children group. In 1934, at the age of fourteen, he was admitted to the Conservatory to the studios of O.Babasyan (piano), and S.Barkhudaryan and V. Talyan (composition). In 1941 A.Arutiunian graduated from the Conservatory with honors, and the State Committee recommended him to continue his graduate studies in the Moscow Conservatory. But the war broke out… During the war years, A.Arutiunian and V.Nikolski, the choirmaster of the State Opera, put to life the Song and Dance Ensemble within the Yerevan Officers’ House, serving military units.
In 1946, a decision was taken to send a group of young composers to Moscow, for advanced studies in the Studio of the Armenia Culture House. G.Litinsky, Professor of composition at the Moscow Conservatory, was invited to coach A.Arutiunian, A. Babajanian, E.Mirzoyan, and A.Khudoyan.
In 1947, A.Arutiunian completed the Festive Ode and March, the first performance of which took place in the Big Hall of the Moscow Conservatory under the baton of N.Golovanov. Concurrently the composition of the Cantata about the Motherland on the words by Ashot Grashi and Sarmen went on. This work received its premiere performance in November of 1948, during the concert within the Plenum of the USSR Composers’ Union, taking place in the Big Studio of the Radio House, Moscow. Conductor Abram Stasevich led the USSR Radio Choir and Orchestra, with Zara Dolukhanova and Vladimir Zakharov performing the solo parts. In 1949, the Cantata about the Motherland received the Stalin Prize of the 1st degree (the highest of honors which was consequently renamed to the USSR State Award).
During the celebration of his anniversary in 1970, Arutiunian was awarded the honorable title of the People’s Artist of the USSR (the highest award in the USSR).
During the days of the traditional festivity "Erebuni-Yerevan" in 1987, Alexander Arutiunian, along with other respectable city figures, was awarded the title of Honorable Citizen of Yerevan City.
In 2005 Arutiunian participated at a concert in Wigmore Hall, London. His Brass Quintet and Concerto for violin and string orchestra were performed, played by the violinist Jack Liebeck (conductor – John Lubbock). In October of 2005 a concert dedicated to the 85-th anniversary of Alexander Arutiunian took place in Yerevan’s Big Philharmonic Hall. English conductor Paul Macalinden led the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. The Symphony, Concertino for piano and orchestra (soloist – Narine Harutiunian), Concerto for trumpet and orchestra (soloist – E. McKey, England) were performed. Sergey Nakariakov, who was titled the "Paganini" and "Karuzo" of the trumpet, performed the Concerto in June during the composer’s jubilee evening, with E.Topchyan conducting.
In May of 2009, Valery Gergiev led the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the performance of Alexander Arutiunian’s Festive Overture, which took place in the Aram Khachaturian Big Hall in Yerevan, within the agenda of the "Easter Festival."
In 2005 Arutiunian participated at a concert in Wigmore Hall, London. His Brass Quintet and Concerto for violin and string orchestra were performed, played by the violinist Jack Liebeck (conductor – John Lubbock). In October of 2005 a concert dedicated to the 85-th anniversary of Alexander Arutiunian took place in Yerevan’s Big Philharmonic Hall. English conductor Paul Macalinden led the Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. The Symphony, Concertino for piano and orchestra (soloist – Narine Harutiunian), Concerto for trumpet and orchestra (soloist – E. McKey, England) were performed. Sergey Nakariakov, who was titled the "Paganini" and "Karuzo" of the trumpet, performed the Concerto in June during the composer’s jubilee evening, with E.Topchyan conducting.
In May of 2009, Valery Gergiev led the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in the performance of Alexander Arutiunian’s Festive Overture.