Arno Babajanian

Arno Harutjuni Babadschanjan (Armenian Առնո Բաբաջանյան, also: Babadzhanian, Babadjanian; born January 22, 1921 in Yerevan, † November 15, 1983 in Moscow) was an Armenian composer.

Babadschanjan studied at the Conservatory of Yerevan at Vardkes Talian. In 1947 he went to the Moscow Conservatory, where he became a piano student of Konstantin Igumnov. He also studied composition with Heinrich Litinski. In 1950 he returned to Armenia, where he worked as a teacher and pianist. He took over the management of a piano class at the Conservatory in Yerevan, where he worked in Moscow as well as a university teacher, composer and pianist. As a pianist, he emerged as the winner at several international music competitions. In 1952 he was elected to the board of the Composers' Union of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and in 1962 awarded the title of " People's Artist of the Armenian SSR ." Babadschanjan was one of the leading musicians of the Armenian SSR. His compositions can the stylistic influence of his compatriot Aram Khachaturian recognize.

In 1950, one of the most famous works Babadschanjans, the Armenian Rhapsody was written for two pianos. In 1952 a piano trio, 1954, the poem Rhapsody for Orchestra. In 1959, a sonata for violin and piano and the cello concerto dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich. He also composed other pieces of chamber music as well as songs and film music. In 1981, a nocturne for piano and symphonic jazz ensemble. While he initially looked at the Armenian folk music, he opened since the late 1950s decided musical innovations and broke away from the tonality.