In the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, a special gala concert marks a milestone of the festival dedicated to the 120th birthday of Aram Khachaturian. The event, highlighted by organizers and reported by TASS, shines a spotlight on the composer who left a powerful imprint on classical music and Armenian musical heritage.
On June 6 at 19:00, the celebration unfolds in the heart of the capital, in the hometown of the great composer. The organizers’ press service describes the gala as the festival’s premier event, a fitting tribute to Khachaturian’s enduring influence and the breadth of his artistic output. Attendees can expect a program that blends iconic orchestral and ballet themes with cinematic mood, all performed in a setting steeped in musical history and tradition.
The concert program brings to life some of Khachaturian’s most celebrated suites. Audiences will hear selections from the ballets Spartacus and Gayane, pieces that have become staples of the 20th-century repertoire and that continue to resonate with listeners around the world. In addition, the program features music from The Valencian Widow, among other works that showcase the composer’s distinctive rhythmic vitality and melodic generosity. The performance will be hosted by the Russian Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra, known for its refined interpretive approach and archival depth.
Leading the artistic roster on stage is Eduard Topchyan, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra’s artistic director, whose experience with Khachaturian’s repertoire brings a nuanced understanding of the composer’s stylistic language. Sharing the spotlight with Topchyan is cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, whose expressive playing and technical polish promise to illuminate Khachaturian’s music in new ways for this audience. The collaboration—combining a renowned orchestral ensemble with a distinguished conductor and a stellar soloist—offers a performance that aims to honor Khachaturian’s legacy while inviting contemporary listeners to discover fresh facets of his work.
Previously, a concert dedicated to Tchaikovsky’s birthday took place in Rome, illustrating the international interest in Romantic-era masterworks. The program showcased famous pieces by various composers, including Tchaikovsky’s three-part cycle Memories of an Existing Place, which reflected a sense of place and memory that continues to inspire audiences today. This historical note underscores the global reach of Khachaturian and Tchaikovsky alike, illustrating how anniversaries of great composers become occasions for cross-cultural musical dialogue and shared celebration across major concert venues.