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:
• 1Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: I. Allegro ma non troppo e maestoso14:51
• 2Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: II. Andante con anima10:29
• 3Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38: III. Allegro brillante10:20
• Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo):
• 4Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): I. Waltz03:53
• 5Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): II. Nocturne03:51
• 6Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): III. Mazurka02:22
• 7Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): IV. Romance03:08
• 8Khachaturian: Suite from Masquerade (Arr. A. Dolukhanian for Piano Solo): V. Galop02:55
• Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra):
• 9Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Beginning08:46
• 10Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 1703:50
• 11Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 3107:04
• 12Khachaturian: Concerto-Rhapsody (Version for Piano & Orchestra): Reh. 6903:41
• Total Runtime01:15:10

Info for Khachaturian: The Concertante Works for Piano

The expressive immediacy of Aram Khachaturian's music, with its sensuous melodic writing, vibrant orchestration and rhythmic drive, resulted in a popularity equalled by few composers of his generation. Composed in 1936, the Piano Concerto was the work that established Khachaturian’s name. Cast in the customary three movements, it is scored for a sizable orchestra, with notable contributions from both side-drum and military drum in the percussion section. In the second movement there is also an extensive solo for a so-called ‘flexatone’; it is often put forward that Khachaturian in fact intended the part to be played on the musical saw, as it is on the present recording. Thirty years after the Concerto, the composer returned to the genre with his Concerto-Rhapsody for piano and orchestra. This time the score offers prominent roles for the xylophone, marimba and vibraphone, which contribute towards making this one of the composer’s most colourful works.

The demanding solo parts are here performed by the young Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer, with spirited support from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Andrew Litton. Sughayer made his acclaimed début as a recording artist with a disc of Khachaturian's piano works and sandwiched between the two works with orchestra he here presents the piano version of one of the composer's best loved pieces, the Masquerade Suite with its yearning opening Waltz and closing Galop.

Iyad Sughayer, piano
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Andrew Litton, conductor

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