An influential cellist dies, at 70

An influential cellist dies, at 70

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norman lebrecht

October 22, 2019

We are saddened to learn of the death today in a Houston hospital of Vagram Saradjian, an outstanding cellist and teacher. He had been suffering from leukaemia.

A Tchaikovsky Competition winner in 1970, he enjoyed an extensive international solo career.

He taught in the US at Oberlin Conservatory, Connecticut College, Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College (CUNY, NY) and elsewhere. Latterly he was Professor of Violoncello at the University of Houston.

 

Comments

  • Edgar Self says:

    Vagram Saradjanian is a new name to me, but he must be known to the international cello community and cannot go to Orphus unsung. He performed iin public at age nine, studied with Rostropovich for eight years at Moscow Conservatory, played Dvorak’s concerto under his direction in Kiev, and was awarded fourth prize at the 1970 Tchaikovsky competition that David Geringas won, and second prize at Geneva five years later.

    He introduced works by Gia Kancheli, Karen Khachaturian, Alexander (Boris?) Tchaikovsky, and Arno Babadjanian,, and taught at several U.S. music schools. I found no mention of Aram Khachatousirian’s concrto, but he must have played it. He can be heard on YouTube.

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