Khachaturian: Spartacus (1968 Bolshoi version) (arr. Y. Grigorovich)

Featuring

Michail Jurowski
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
RIAS Kammerchor
Aram Khachaturian

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Composer Biography

Aram Khachaturian, the composer, was born in Tiflis, Georgia, in 1903 to an Armenian bookbinder and initially considered medical or technical studies before pursuing music.

Composition History

Khachaturian began sketching ideas for his ballet "Spartacus" in 1940, but its completion was delayed until 1954 due to the ballet "Gayaneh" and World War II.

Cultural Impact

The Adagio from Act 3 of Khachaturian's ballet "Spartacus" was chosen by the BBC as the title music for the worldwide soap opera series "The Onedin Line."

Notable Performances

The ballet "Spartacus" achieved worldwide success in the 1968 version choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, which is the basis for this recording.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Khachaturian's music is deeply influenced by the traditions of his Caucasian homeland, drawing inspiration from the folk music of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Historical Context

To prepare for composing "Spartacus," Khachaturian traveled to Italy to visit the Roman Colosseum and gladiator quarters, immersing himself in the historical setting.

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