Fallen in love with life: Arno Babajanyan would have turned 95

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Poet Andrei Dementiev described him as a man fallen in love with life. “He had so much humor and humanity that music was born from that kindness. He had an instinctive sense of beauty,” the Russian writer said on one occasion about composer, pianist, SSR and USSR People's Artist, laureate of state prizes Arno Babajanyan.

As “Armenpress” reports, one of the greatest composers of Armenian composing art in the 20th century Arno Babajanyan would have turned 95 years old on January 22.

On January 21 or 22?

Arno Babajanyan was born on January 22, 1921, in Yerevan. According to some data, Babajanyan’s father changed his son’s date of birth in the certificate after the death of Lenin in 1924 as January 21 had become annual day of mourning. At the age of 5, he was noticed by composerAram Khachaturian, who recommended that Babajanyan must study music seriously. At the age of 9, Babajanyan wrote his first composition, 'Pioneer's March'.

Musical career start

In 1938 Babajanyan moved to Moscow and was admitted to the graduate level at the Gnesin School of Music, where he studied piano with Yelena Gnesina and composition withVissarion Shebalin. He was a professor at the Yerevan Conservatory from 1950-1956. Since 1956 he lived and worked in Moscow.

Creative activity

While in Armenia Babajanyan composed his most celebrated concert works such as the 'Heroic Ballade' for piano and orchestra (1950), the 'Armenian Rhapsody' for two pianos (1950), and the acclaimed 'Piano Trio' (1952). Babajanyan became famous with his title song for the film 'Song of the First Love' (1958). It became a popular radio hit and a best-selling record in the former Soviet Union. The composer’s unique talent was also demonstrated in his songs with deep emotions. Babajanyan’s “The best city on earth”, “Bridges”, “Do not rush” and other songs are prominent which were created in Soviet Union and abroad.

“Arno Babajanyan” funds were established in Moscow, 1991 and in Yerevan, 1996. Armenian Philharmonic smallconcerthall, a street, and music school are named after him. Babajanyan’s monument was erected in 2003.

Prepared by Roza Grigoryan