Aram Khachaturian - Symphony No.3 'Symphony--Poem' (1947)

Aram Khachaturian

Work: Symphony No.3 "Symphony-Poem" / "Simfoniya-Poema" (1947)

Allegro moderato, maestoso - Allegro - Andante sostenuto - Maestoso - Tempo I

Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic

Conductor: Fedor Glushchenko

The Symphony No. 3 by Aram Khachaturian, subtitled Symphony–Poem, was composed in 1947 for the 30th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, and premiered on Leningrad on December 13 by the Leningrad Philharmonic conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky. It was his last contribution to the genre. Originally conceived as a symphonic poem, it is a single movement symphony featuring an organ solo and fifteen trumpets conceived as a hymn of praise of the Soviet Union, with Khachaturian saying that he "wanted this work to express the Soviet people’s joy and pride in their great and mighty country". However, the work's raw and strident style, which has been related to the 1920s Soviet constructivist avantgarde, and unorthodox structure and instrumentation dissatisfied the Stalinist cultural authorities, and it was condemned as formalistic in the 1948 Zhdanov decree.

[Marsha]

O M G....I couldn't remember what Sym #3 was then realized it was the Organ Symphony.  I had it on vinyl when I was young, in my 20's.  It makes me think of Khachaturian on some really baaad drugs!  I love Khachaturian and always have.  The music is wild and mind-blowing.  I love the tame melodies at 7:15, then 7:54 again and then the build up starting at 15:48!  This would make for some awesome movie music.!  Love the sinister organ in this too!  I haven't heard this work in years...I think I need a valium!  I love it!!!!  I will always cherish the memory of being able to see him live at Carnegie Hall when I was a teenager.  He was conducting his own work.  I still have the little piece of scrap paper he signed for me!

[krusty]

I can see the majestic bloodshed unfold between two sides of a war trading blows, as terror and pride pierce through the blaring war cries and fiery munitions leaving trails of smoke in its midst. I can smell the metal, fire, sweat, blood, and tears of dying men who fought bravely for their beliefs, homeland, and families they left behind never to see again.

This music paints a romantic hell.

[kirsteni.russell]

This is the most bizarre and haunting symphony I've never heard live in concert, and I'm surely not likely to hear a symphony orchestrated for trumpets galore as well as an organ down here in Florida! But I need to get this on CD so I can get my fix of wild and crazy symphonic music!

[MarcAllenCramnella]

My very favorite Khachaturian work and woefully underappreciated. Brilliant performance too.

[horseradish]

Last 7 minutes are absolutely insane, pure musical carnage. 

[yowzephyr]

I just listened to this entire thing. And I'm now finding myself feeling apprehensive. I'm worried my brain is going to seek revenge on me for subjecting it to this. And I'll then be gasping in agony like this: 22:48.

[ИгорьДымченко-кл]

Greatest Symphony ever written.
What a Great Composer - Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978).

[gregoryroscow]

Aram's great idea (given the thumbs down at the time) was a huge fanfare with a revolutionary tune as its main melodic component. Too often, conductors like this one rush the climax, when this tune is heard in its full glory. Stokowski and Khachaturian himself conduct it as I assume he wanted it. Still, no performance of this "monsterpiece", as someone has wittily called it, can fail to impress. 15 trumpets and an out-of-control organ are sure-fire winners.

[markpaterson]

This music floods my mind's eye with constant imagery, which changes every time I listen to it; makes Tchaikovsky's 1812 sound like a pop song.

[marchanteangel]

I like Khatchaturian great composer & great music

[paulrodaway]

Khachaturian's 'Organ Symphony' is a fantastic alternative to the more famous Saint-Saens work (also a symphony no 3). Khachaturian balances the organ and the orchestra masterfully, and as always he finds space for his wonderful melodies.  Well worth repeated listening!

[grahamexeter]

Fabulous nonsense!!!! It begins with the ending and ends with the beginning, so does it even exist? Love it!!!

[CannonfireVideo]

Woah! I've known this symphony since the 1970s, but I've never heard a performance like this. Very unusual; very striking. It seems iffy and unconvincing at first -- too slow, too thin -- but very soon we are immersed in a sound-world unlike anything I've heard before. The performance speeds up as it goes along, attaining a breakneck pavce by the end.

This symphony was always the Soviet version of Heavy Metal -- moreso than ever before in this rendition.

[antoniocarlosantunesantune]

Great work and orchestration ! Amazing!

[vahegabrielyan]

Aram Khachaturian great Armenian composer

[fdsjdhasd]

I love this symphony and especially this recording.

[liberpolo]

17:28 gives me vibes of those old 50s hollywood films of Rome

[slothropgr]

My first recording of this was Tjeknavorian and it's remained my go-to version--till now. The organ is what sold this one--finally, one that isn't buried by the orchestra and sounds like a proper piper! Sound is also fabulous.

[marcelomarquescosta]

Muito bom! Recomendação do Alysson Mascaro 👍

[horusfalcon]

A very stately rendition of this piece, very nuanced and different from the more usual brisk pace of this work by others. Well Done!