Khachaturian: The Concertante Works for Piano Iyad Sughayer, The BBC National Orchestra of Wales & Andrew Litton

• Aram Khachaturian (1903 - 1978): Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38:
• 1 Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: I. Allegro ma non troppo e maestoso 14:51
• 2 Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: II. Andante con anima 10:29
• 3 Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: III. Allegro brillante 10:20
• Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo):
• 4 Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): I. Waltz 03:53
• 5 Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): II. Nocturne 03:51
• 6 Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): III. Mazurka 02:22
• 7 Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): IV. Romance 03:08
• 8 Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): V. Galop 02:55
• Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra):
• 9 Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Beginning 08:46
• 10 Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 17 03:50
• 11 Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 31 07:04
• 12 Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 69 03:41
• Total Runtime 01:15:10

Info for Khachaturian: The Concertante Works for Piano

Die ausdrucksstarke Unmittelbarkeit von Aram Chatschaturians Musik mit ihrer sinnlichen Melodieführung, ihrer lebendigen Orchestrierung und ihrem rhythmischen Schwung führte zu einer Popularität, die nur wenige Komponisten seiner Generation erreichten. Das 1936 komponierte Klavierkonzert war das Werk, mit dem sich Chatschaturian einen Namen machte. Es besteht aus den üblichen drei Sätzen und ist für ein großes Orchester komponiert, wobei im Schlagzeugteil sowohl die Seitentrommel als auch die Militärtrommel bemerkenswerte Beiträge leisten. Im zweiten Satz gibt es auch ein ausgedehntes Solo für ein so genanntes Flexatone"; es wird oft behauptet, dass Chatschaturian den Part tatsächlich auf der Musiksäge spielen lassen wollte, wie es in der vorliegenden Aufnahme der Fall ist. Dreißig Jahre nach dem Konzert kehrte der Komponist mit seiner Konzert-Rhapsodie für Klavier und Orchester zu diesem Genre zurück. Diesmal bietet die Partitur prominente Rollen für Xylophon, Marimba und Vibraphon, die dazu beitragen, dieses Werk zu einem der farbenreichsten des Komponisten zu machen.

Die anspruchsvollen Soloparts werden hier von dem jungen jordanisch-palästinensischen Pianisten Iyad Sughayer gespielt, der vom BBC National Orchestra of Wales unter Andrew Litton tatkräftig unterstützt wird. Sughayer gab sein vielbeachtetes Debüt mit einer Aufnahme von Chatschaturians Klavierwerken, und zwischen den beiden Werken mit Orchester präsentiert er hier die Klavierversion eines der beliebtesten Stücke des Komponisten, die Maskeraden-Suite mit ihrem sehnsuchtsvollen Eröffnungswalzer und dem abschließenden Galop.

Iyad Sughayer, Klavier
BBC Nationales Orchester von Wales
Andrew Litton, Dirigent

Iyad Sughayer
Rising star, Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer, has already been invited to perform as soloist with many leading orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata as well as the Cairo and Amman Symphony Orchestras. He has performed on the stage of the Bridgewater Hall, the Stoller Hall – where Iyad made his debut on BBC Radio 3 – the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Steinway Hall New York, Castleton Festival Virginia, Kings Place and Wigmore Hall in London. After studying with Mohammed Sidiq in Jordan, Iyad pursued his studies at Chetham’s School of Music in the UK with Marie Louise Taylor and Murray McLachlan. He then graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music as a scholar and from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where he was awarded the prestigious Trinity Laban Gold Medal. In 2018, he returned to the RNCM to complete the International Artist Diploma with Murray McLachlan, Martino Tirimo and Graham Scott. As a 2019 City Music Foundation Artist, Iyad is about to embark on a series of recitals in the UK, Europe and the Middle East and is very proud to announce the release of his first album featuring the solo works of Khachaturian with BIS records.

Andrew Litton
Born in New York City, Andrew Litton earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School in piano and conducting. He is music director of the New York City Ballet, principal guest conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Music director laureate of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Litton led the orchestra for a period of 12 years (2003–15) during which it gained international recognition through extensive recording and touring. For his work with the orchestra, Litton was presented with the Royal Order of Merit by King Harald V of Norway. Other honours include Yale’s Sanford Medal, the Elgar Society Medal and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bournemouth.

Past commitments as a conductor include periods as principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and a 14-year tenure as artistic director of the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest. Litton regularly guest conducts leading orchestras around the globe. An avid opera conductor, he has led major opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Deutsche Oper Berlin. In Norway, he was key to founding the Bergen National Opera; he also often conducts semi-staged opera programmes with symphony orchestras. An extensive and wide-ranging discography numbers more than 130 recordings, which have garnered America’s Grammy Award, France’s Diapason d’Or and other honours.

Andrew Litton often performs as a piano soloist, conducting from the keyboard. An acknowledged expert on George Gershwin, he has performed and recorded Gershwin widely as both pianist and conductor and serves as advisor to the University of Michigan Gershwin Archives. In 2014 he released his first solo piano album, ‘A Tribute to Oscar Peterson’, testimony to his passion for jazz.

Booklet for Khachaturian: The Concertante Works for Piano