Khachaturian was born in Tiflis, Russia (now Armenian family (the influence of Armenian folk music is prominent in his work). In his youth, he was fascinated by the music he heard around him, but at first he did not study music or learn to read it. In 1921, he travelled to Moscow all on his own in order to begin his musical studies, having almost no musical education and unable to speak a word of Russian. However, he showed such a great musical talent that he was admitted to the Gnesin Institute where he studied cello under Mikhail Gnesin and entered a composition class (1925). In 1929, he transferred to the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under Nikolai Myaskovsky. In the 1930's he married the composer Nina Makarova, a fellow student from Myaskovsky's class. In 1951, he became professor at the Gnesiny State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (Moscow) and the Moscow Conservatory.
His works include concertos for violin, cello and piano (the latter originally including an early part for the flexatone), concerto-rhapsodies for the same instruments, three symphonies the third containing parts for fifteen trumpets and organ, and the balletsSpartak (Spartacus) and Gayane, the latter featuring in its final act what is probably his most famous movement, the "Sabre Dance". He also composed some film music. The cinematic quality of his music for Spartacus was clearly seen when it was used as the theme for a popular BBC drama series, The Onedin Line, during the 1970s. Since then, it has become one of the most popular of all classical pieces for UK audiences.
Markov, the son of a concert violinist father, was born in the Moscow of the old U.S.S.R. He received an invitation at the age of 14 to train under the legendary Jasha Heifetz and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1982, becoming a U.S. citizen in the process.
Katchaturian's "Violin Concerto," to my mind, is one of the most brilliant compositions in romantic music literature, and its moving rendition roused the audience to its feet with a full house on the evening of Feb. 11.
Katchaturian (1903-1978) started writing his concerto in 1938, completed it during the war in 1940 and dedicated it to the great David Oistrakh.
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