Edgar Sergei Hovhannisyan (1930-1998); ARM

Edgar Hovhannisyan was born in Yerevan in 1930 and graduated from the Yerevan State "Komitas" Conservatory in 1953. Following graduation, he moved to Moscow and pursued post-graduate work at the Moscow Conservatory, where he worked under famed Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. He subsequently returned to Armenia and became the director of the State Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan (1962-68), and later a Professor of Composition at the Yerevan Conservatory, from 1986-92. He died in Yerevan in 1998.

Hovhannisyan is widely considered among the most influential Armenian composers of the late 20th century, a prolific musician who worked in most every genre, though with great emphasis on orchestral writing. His work with the Armenian State Ballet Theater led to several important ballets, including "Janna D'Ark", "Sulamif", and "Marmar" - whose orchestral suite is included here at the Classical Archives. Beyond these, Hovhannisyan experimented with various musical styles, including neo-classical, folk-based styles, and even jazz - such as in the "Concert Variations for Saxophone and Jazz Orchestra", likewise featured here at the Classical Archives. In addition, he wrote one opera ("The Travel to Arzrum"), various vocal-orchestral works (e.g. the oratorio "Grikor Naregatsi"), and numerous film scores. We are very pleased to feature the work of this important Armenian composer here at the Classical Archives.