This film is about the life of a composer creating in the darkness of a tragic era. A life full of contradictions: Was Aram Khachaturian playing the fool for Stalinism, or composing music that cried out against its evils? Was he a Soviet favorite musical son, or a sacrificial lamb? A loyal subject of the Kremlin, or secret dissident? An Armenian composer, rooted to his heritage, or the New Socialist Man? Like most Soviet citizens, Khachaturian hid a complex private life behind a mask of Communist loyalty.
A film about one composer's life and music during the great Soviet experiment
Winner - Best Documentary Award at the Hollywood Film Festival in Los Angeles
Peter Rosen’s latest work is a grand tribute to the great Armenian composer in his centennial year and a daring, yet moving study of his complex life under Stalin’s tyranny. The film is about the life of a composer creating in the darkness of a tragic era. Like most Soviet citizens, Khachaturian hid a complex private life behind a mask of Communist loyalty.
Musical segments include excerpts from Spartacus and Gayne ballets, the Violin Concerto and as a DVD bonus Mstislav Rostropovich in a complete performance of the Concerto- Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra .
The KUHN FOUNDATION presents a PETER ROSEN PRODUCTION
Narrated by Eric Bogosian
Music played by the Armenian Philharmonic conducted by Loris Tjeknavorian
Bonuses:
- Khachaturian: Concerto- Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello/ State Orchestra of the USSR/ Aram Khachaturian
- Making ""Khachaturian"" (behind the scenes with the filmmakers)
- Piano Concerto - Third Movement (music video)
Dora Serviarian-Kuhn, piano;Armenian Philharmonic/ Loris Tjeknavorian
Playable in all regions.