Armenian composer and pianist during the Soviet era, Arno Babajanian. Babajanian was born on January
Armenian composer and pianist during the Soviet era, Arno Babajanian. Babajanian was born on January 22, 1921 in Yerevan, Armenia. Babajanian was awarded with the title People’s Artist of the USSR in 1971 and was a member of the CPSU since 1956. Babajanian graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory in 1947 and from K. N. Igumnov’s class at the Moscow Conservatory in 1948. His style was influenced by S. V. Rachmaninoff and A. I. Khachaturian. When he was 5 years old, Babajanian’s musical talent was discovered by the composer Aram Khachaturian, who suggested that the boy should receive proper music training. He was known for his composition of the romantic Heroic Ballade for Piano and Orchestra in 1950, which earned him the State Prize of the USSR in 1951. It was in 1952 that he wrote the Piano Trio in f# sharp minor. Immediately after it’s premiere the piece received acclaim and was regarded as a masterpiece. His Sonata for Violin and Piano (1959), Cello Concerto (1962), Six Pictures for Piano (1965; State Prize of the Armenian SSR, 1967), and other works are distinguished by expressive musical language. Babajanian omposed popular songs and film scores. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various other medals. Arno Babajanian passed away on November 11, 1983 in Moscow. Sources: - Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (5th ed.). New York: Springer Verlag. p. 675. ISBN 3-540-00238-3. - Grigorian, A. A. Babadzhanian. Moscow, 1961 - T’ashch’yan, S. S. Arhno Babajanyan. Yerevan, 1961. -- source link