Edouard Oganessian was a renowned classical music artist who was born on January 1, 1934, in Yerevan, Armenia. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a well-known composer and conductor. From a young age, Oganessian showed a keen interest in music and began studying the piano at the age of six. Oganessian's talent was quickly recognized, and he was accepted into the Yerevan State Conservatory at the age of 14. He studied under the tutelage of renowned pianist and composer Arno Babajanian, who recognized Oganessian's exceptional talent and helped him hone his skills. In 1955, Oganessian graduated from the Yerevan State Conservatory with honors and began his career as a concert pianist. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional talent and was invited to perform at major concert halls around the world. One of Oganessian's most notable performances was at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. He was the first Armenian pianist to participate in the competition, and his performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 earned him a second prize. This was a significant achievement for Oganessian, as the Tchaikovsky Competition was one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world. Over the course of his career, Oganessian performed with some of the world's most renowned orchestras, including the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also collaborated with many famous conductors, including Kirill Kondrashin, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, and Yuri Temirkanov. In addition to his performances, Oganessian was also a prolific recording artist. He recorded numerous albums throughout his career, including works by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. His recordings were highly acclaimed and earned him numerous awards, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Edison Award. Oganessian was also a dedicated teacher and mentor. He taught at the Yerevan State Conservatory for many years and helped to train a new generation of talented pianists. Many of his students went on to have successful careers in music, and Oganessian was widely respected for his dedication to teaching and his commitment to passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation. Throughout his career, Oganessian received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1984, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR, one of the highest honors that could be bestowed upon a musician in the Soviet Union. He was also awarded the State Prize of Armenia in 1995 and the Movses Khorenatsi Medal in 2004. Despite his many achievements, Oganessian remained humble and dedicated to his craft throughout his life. He continued to perform and teach until his death on December 27, 2006, at the age of 72. His legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the countless people who were inspired by his exceptional talent and dedication to classical music.

More....