Alexander Spendiarov - Symphonic Works (Vag Papian)

Information

Composer: Alexander Spendiarov

1. Etude on Hebrew Melodies, 1921
2. Mourning Prelude (written on the occasion of Rimsky-Korsakov’s death, Op. 20, 1908)
3. "Three Palms" Symphonic Poem, Op. 10, 1905
4. Lullaby, Op. 3 No. 2, 1897

Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

Vag Papian, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Amara

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Alexander Spendiarov (1871–1928) was an Armenian-Russian composer whose music masterfully blends Russian classical traditions with Armenian folk elements. A student of Rimsky-Korsakov and close associate of Glazunov, he achieved distinction as a composer, conductor, and pedagogue. His oeuvre includes piano works, romances, lullabies, orchestral suites, and the opera Almast, many of which draw on Armenian, Crimean, and Persian folk melodies. Active in Crimea and later in Yerevan, Spendiarov contributed to the development of Armenian musical institutions, teaching at the Conservatory and helping establish the country’s first symphony orchestra. His work enriched Armenian musical expression and influenced subsequent generations, including Khachaturian.

Vag Papian (born 1956 in Yerevan) is an accomplished pianist and conductor from an artistic family. He studied piano at the Yerevan Tchaikovsky School of Music and the Moscow Conservatory, and conducting at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory under Prof. Ilya Musin. Papian launched his international career after winning second prize at the 1979 Vianna da Motta Competition and has since performed in over 50 countries. He has served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of major orchestras, including the Armenian National Philharmonic, Kazakhstan State Symphony, and Ashdod Symphony. He collaborates with top musicians, records for EMI Classics, and teaches at Tel Aviv’s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.

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