Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 3, 2003|Volume 32, Number 5

Events mark the centennial
of Russian composer

The Yale Alumni Chorus will join with the Philharmonia of Russia to present a special concert marking the centennial of Russian composer Aram Khachaturian at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Woolsey Hall, corner of College and Grove streets.

The concert is one of several events taking place on campus in conjunction with the worldwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of Khachaturian's birth, including the world premiere of a documentary about the composer.

Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (1903-1978) was one of the most popular composers of the Soviet period. He is known in the West chiefly as the composer of instrumental concerti and the scores for the ballets "Gayaneh" and "Spartacus." He also composed symphonies and other works for orchestra, film and theater music, works for band, chamber music, and a number of patriotic and popular songs.

During their tour last spring, the Yale Alumni Chorus traveled to Moscow, where they became the first U.S. chorus to sing at the State Kremlin Palace, the former seat of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union. Their performance with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra was broadcast by Russian National Television to an audience of 98 million people. The group, which was selected by the Khachaturian family to be part of the UNESCO-sponsored worldwide celebration honoring the composer, is composed of 100 singers ranging from the Yale College classes of 1941 to 2003.

The Philharmonia of Russia, featuring members of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, is conducted by Constantine Orbelian, the first American conductor to be named director of a music ensemble in Russia. The concert will also feature pianist Dora Seviarian-Kuhn, mezzo-soprano Marina Domashenko and members of the Yale Philharmonia.

The program for the concert will include "Ode in Memory of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin," Khachaturian's only piano concerto, a suite from the ballet "Spartacus," "Ode of Joy" and other works.

A second performance of this concert will be presented on Friday, Oct. 10, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Tickets are $15; $8 for students. They are available through the Shubert Theatre box office, (203) 562-5666.

Lecture and film

A talk on "The Legacy of Aram Khachaturian: Music in the Countries of the Former Soviet Union" by Soviet musicologist Solomon Volkov will be held in conjunction with the Khachaturian Centennial. The talk will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the First and Summerfield Methodist Church, corner of College and Elm streets.

That evening, at 6 p.m., the documentary "Khachaturian," looking at the composer's music and life, will make its world premiere at the York Square Cinema on Broadway. The film's director and producer, Peter Rosen '68 M.F.A., will present introductory remarks.

Both events are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the Yale Alumni Chorus, the Yale Glee Club and the School of Music.

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