Babadzhanian, Arno Arutiunovich

Born Jan. 22, 1921, in Yerevan. Soviet composer and pianist. People’s Artist of the USSR (1971). Member of the CPSU since 1956.

Babadzhanian 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. He composed the romantic Heroic Ballade for Piano and Orchestra in 1950, which earned him the State Prize of the USSR in 1951. 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. Babadzhanian composes popular songs and film scores. He has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various medals.