Eduard Baghdasarian was born on November 14, 1922, in Yerevan. He received his primary education in Tiflis, in the musical ten-year school from which he graduated in 1941. In 1947 he graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory, V. Sarajev’s piano class, and in 1950 E. Yeghiazaryan’s composition class. His composition teachers were also H. Kushnarev and V. Taglian. During his studies, Baghdasaryan wrote a number of chamber-instrumental works, including a string quartet, a sonata for clarinet and a number of piano preludes, as well as songs and romances. His thesis was on a symphonic poem.

 

In 1951, the young composer went to Moscow to improve his composition in the Studio at the House of Culture of Armenia, where he studied under G. Litinsky and N. Peiko. During his stay in Moscow, he created a piano quintet, a suite for a symphonic orchestra, and continued his successful work in creating piano miniatures ("Preludes"). In 1953, Eduard Baghdasarian participated in an expedition to the Sisian region of Armenia to collect folk songs. The most interesting songs collected by the expedition were used by him in the treatments for choir and solo singing. In 1954, Eduard Baghdasarian wrote the music for the "Golden City" drama play (H. Tumanyan’s lyrics), overture for symphonic orchestra, rhapsody for violin and orchestra and together with composer S. Gerbashyan - "1905"vocal-symphonic poem (O. Ghukasyan’s lyrics).

 

Working mainly in the field of instrumental music, Baghdasarian was constantly looking for a variety of forms and expressive means in various genres. The melodic, harmonic and textural ingenuity of a number of his compositions, especially the piano preludes, should be noted. Vocal works include popular romances "Winter road" and "On the Hills of Georgia" based on the poems of A. Pushkin, mass songs "Komsomol March" (M. Koryun’s lyrics), "Song of Peace " (R. Hovhannisyan’s lyrics), etc. In the future, with the accumulation of experience and knowledge, the range of his creative interests has expanded significantly. Notable events not only in the creative biography of the composer but also in the national chamber music were his epic quintet and bright spring sonata for clarinet and piano. "Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra" brought the composer deserved recognition. Deeply folk in spirit this is one of the most artistically perfect and significant creations.

 

Since the mid-50s, Baghdasarian has turned to creating music for dramatic performances and movies. There was a consistency in this, due to his character and creative individuality. Sociable, easy to light up and keenly impressionable in life, he as an artist is characterized by the quick reaction, rare ability to almost instantly melt impressions received from the outside into expressive musical images. This outstanding ability to lively contrast is especially valuable in such synthetic arts as theater and cinema. E. Baghdasarian showed it fully in the joint work with the Armenian Soviet film directors. The most famous "Triangle" and "Tzhvzhik" films, undoubtedly, have his significant share as composer. Accuracy and subtlety of his musical style are found in such memorable performances as "Evil spirit" in the Stanislavsky Theater in Yerevan, "Romeo and Juliet" in the State Sundukyan Academic Theater and "Golden City" in Youth Theater (awarded the first-degree laureate title of laureate at the All-Soviet competition). This same lively sociability of talent led the composer to the most popular genres. His cooperation with the Armenian song-dance ensemble and radio and television orchestra of folk instruments was fruitful. Without abandoning the requirements of high professionalism, he was able to find the necessary simplicity, accessibility, clarity, which were dictated by the specifics of the genre. His songs "In Separation" and "The Song of the Girl" became a real success. They are undoubtedly among the best lyrical songs written in the folk spirit. E. Baghdasarian proved to be interesting in the genre of pop music, where he occupied one of the leading places for a long time.

 

For about ten years (1956 to 1966) he directed the instrumental quintet of radio and television – the second most important group of pop music in the country. His temperamental, fervent instrumental pieces, pop songs sounded not only in his group’s performance but also were included in the repertoire of other pop orchestras, including Moscow pop orchestra. Baghdasarian’s recent years' works included symphonic suite, soulful "Three Medieval Chants" for violin and piano, expanded choral song "My Homeland", which was awarded the first prize at the republican competition. Eduard Baghdasarian enjoys great authority among the musical community. Being among the leading Armenian composers, he has repeatedly represented Armenian music both in the Soviet countries and abroad (Poland, Lebanon, etc.). Eduard Baghdasarian was a permanent member of the jury of many competitions, including All-Soviet piano competition chaired by Emil Gilels. He devoted a lot of effort to pedagogical work at the conservatory.