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Aram Khachaturian International Competition is set to kick off for the 13th time already on June 6, the birthday anniversary of celebrated Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. This year the competition will be held in “Vocal” specialty for the first time. As Panorama.am was informed from the Ministry of Culture, on this occasion the inauguration ceremony of A. Khachaturian bust is to be held at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, to be followed by the opening ceremony of the 13th Aram Khachaturian International Competition at Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan. The concert features the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Opera House Chorus and other honorary guests.

Aram Khachaturian was born in Kodzhori (now Tbilisi), suburb of Tiflis, on June 6, 1903, in the Armenian family of a bookbinder. He wrote later: “Old Tiflis is a city of sounds, a city of music. It took a stroll along the streets and lanes away from the center, to plunge into the musical atmosphere which was created by all the various sources…”

It is also important, that at the time, there was a division of RMC (Russian Musical Society) in Tbilisi, as well as a musical school and an Italian Opera Theatre. This place was visited by famous cultural representatives, among which were: Fyodor Shalyapin, Sergei Rakhmaninov, Konstantin Igumnov. Ultimately, there lived famous musicians, who played an important role in the formation of Georgian and Armenian composer schools.

All of this constituted the basis for the early musical impressions of Aram Khachaturian. The original multi-national “alloy” of the intonation was an integral part of his acoustical experience. Years later, this very “alloy” became the pledge of Khachaturian’s music, so that it was never limited by the frames of nationality, and was always appealing to a wide-range of audiences. It is worth mentioning that Khachaturian was always devoid of any demonstration of national hidebound. He had a profound respect and a live interest in the music of various nations.

Internationalism is one of the characteristic features and peculiarities of the world perception, and is part of the creative work of Khachaturian.

The musical development of Khachaturian proceeded at a fast pace. Within a short period, not only did he catch up on his classwork, but he also became one of the best students, obtaining the right to perform at students’ concerts in the Small and Grand Halls of Moscow Conservatory.