Stepanian, Aro (Levoni)

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Stepanian, Aro (Levoni)

Stepanian, Aro (Levoni), Armenian composer; b. Elizavetpol, April 24, 1897; d. Yerevan, Jan. 9, 1966. He studied with Gnessin in Moscow (1923–27) and with Shcherbachev and Kushnarian at the Leningrad Cons. (1926–30). He then settled in Yerevan, where he served as president of the Armenian Composers’ Union (1938–48). He was one of the leading Armenian composers of his generation.

Works

DRAMATIC : Opera : Brave Nazar (1934; Yerevan, Nov. 29, 1935); David of Sasun (1936); At the Dawn (1937); Nune (1947); Heroine (1950). ORCH .: 3 syms. (1943, 1945, 1953); 2 piano concertos (1947, 1955); Viola Concerto (1955); Rhapsody for Piano and Orch. (1962). CHAMBER : 4 string quartets; 2 violin sonatas; Cello Sonata. VOCAL : Numerous choruses and songs.

Bibliography

M. Kazakhian, A. S. (Yerevan, 1962); G. Tigranov, A. S. (Moscow, 1967).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire