Khatchatur Pilikian: Iraqi Opera Singer

Courtesy of Khatchatur Pilikian

* Born in Mosul, Iraq in 1939. Khatchtur lived and studied in Iraq, Lebanon and Italy. He left Iraq for Lebanon in 1951/52.

* Khatchatur I. Pilikian is a performing and recording musician (RAI-TV, RCA, Durium, Poetica), painter (Gentes Ars=People’s Art, International Exhibition Prize, Rome, 1961), and a research scholar/lecturer.

* After leaving his studies in architecture at Rome University (1957-1959), Pilikian pursued his art studies at the Fine Arts Academy and the French Academy, both in Rome, while continuing his music studies at Rome’s St. Cecilia Academy and Chigiana Academy in Siena.

* As a leading tenor, Pilikian was invited to Armenia, where he made his debut in 1961, singing the role of Cavaradossi in Puccini’s opera Tosca, at the Spendiarian Opera Theatre of Yerevan, conducted by maestro Yuri Davitian.

* In 1964, Pilikian created two roles in Mario Nascimbene’s TV-opera Faust a Manhattan, conducted by maestro Franco Ferrara and directed by Sandro Bolchi, presenting Italy in the International TV Festival Premio Italia 64.

* In 1970, an original poster in Kufic style, designed by K. I. Pilikian, publicised the First Poetry Encounter—a world conference on Arab poetry, held in Beirut.

* In 1973, Leonardo da Vinci on voice, music and stage design was the title of his research as a Fulbright scholar at Indiana University, Bloomington,

* In 1975, he completed the resident requirements for the Doctor of Music degree.

* In 1976, Khatchatur Pilikian joined the music faculty of Wayne State University (Michigan), where, in addition to his academic responsibilities as a pedagogue/performer with WSU faculty, Professor Pilikian designed and directed an original university radio WDET-FM series entitled HARC-The Heritage of Armenian Culture (sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union—AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Fund).

* In Jan. 2002, he took part, as a tenor soloist, with Cahit Baylav (violin) and Hassan Erraji (oud), in the NAZIM HIKMET 100 Celebration Concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

* In April 22, 2006, Pilikian produced and directed his original Audio-Visual Libretto—Harmonic Synthesis of Armenian Poems and Music, for the AGBU 100 Anniversary, Montreal Chapter, Canada.

* Garod Books of the Gomidas Institute has recently published Pilikian’s latest book titled "UNESCO LAUREATES: Nazim Hikmet & Aram Khatchaturian"

* Khatchatur currently live in London.

* He was not affiliated with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO), but as an Iraqi who specializes in western classical music (whether composer, musician or conductor) and/or opera singing, he is featured here.

Listen to his performance here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7x0dfYwusw

Beatrice Ohanessian (1927-2008)

Beatrice Ohanessian

Pianist and composer

March 15, 1927 in Baghdad - July 17, 2008 in Minnesota
Courtesy of Bassim H. Petros

Fuad Ridha As-Saden & Fuad al-Mashta

This is a clip from the Documentary Film,

"Baghdad in Four Days"

Video taped in November 2003 in Baghdad

by

Wafaa' Al-Natheema

The clip includes an interview with INSO founder

and viola player, Fuad Ridha As-Saden who was

teaching at the Music & Ballet School of Baghdad

at the time of the interview

and with Fuad al-Mashta who was a music

teacher at the above mentioned school and a musician with the

Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXb44Giej2M

Farid Allahwerdi & Jewad Selim

Picture taken in 1953 at the British Cultural Center

From Left:

Farid Allahwerdi, Jewad Selim and Vartan Manoogian

Also appears Jewad Selim's wife, Lorna (left)

Farid Allahwerdi -- Profile

Picture taken at the King

Faisal II Hall

on March 6, 1953

Baghdad Philharmonic Society

From left:

Vartan Manoogian-violin, Sandu Albu-violin, Julian Hertz- piano, Farid Allawerdi-viola and André Thoerè- Chello

Farid Allahwerdi (b. 1923 in Basra, Iraq- d. February 2, 07 in Bublin, Ireland)

A composer of modern music and a member of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM). In 1948 he graduated from Law College of University of Baghdad. He studied composition in Paris, Moscow and New York. In 1950, Allahwerdi earned a diploma in violin and piano from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. He then completed a Master's degree in Music Composition from The Hunter College in NY. His compositions include "Al-Mansooriyya" symphonic poem, which aired on Moscow radio in 1958, and 'Fantasy' for solo violin, and have been performed by many notable performers including Quatuor Margand, the Yasuda Ken-Ishiro String Quartet, the Moscow Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra, Najmi Succari, Vartan Manoogian and Igor Chernyavsky.

Allahwerdi taught musical eduaction, theory and instruments, mainly viola and violin, at Baghdad's Fine Arts Institute (for 25 years) and at The Academy of Fine Arts of Baghdad University (for five years). For over a decade, Farid also taught at the Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan. He has received many prizes including the Prix D'Honneur de L'Ecole Nationale de Musique de Saint-Brieuc in 1952. In 1995 he was awarded Honorary Certificate from the Arab League of Music for contribution and promotion of Arabic Music

Allahwerdi lived in Dublin, Ireland, for four years until his death.

The Petros Family in Pictures

Bassim H. Petros - Profile

Bassim H. Petros (1934 - )

Born in Baghdad in 1934. He Joined the Fine Arts Institute in Baghdad in 1947 to study Cello under the Sherrif Muhi-ddeen Haydar (Turkish), Hagob Kouyoumidjian (Iraqi) and Adres Taurrer (French). He Joined the Baghdad Philharmonic (INSO later on) in 1948 as a Cellist. Established and presented with Munther J. Hafeth the-first-of-its-kind Baghdad TV weekly program (The World of Music). Bassim is a member of the Iraqi National Music Committee (INMC), the International Music Council (Unesco), the Arab Academy of Music (of the Arab States League) and the Iraqi Artists Union. For five years, he worked at the National Music Conservatory in Amman as Cello and Contrabass teacher and as a member of its orchestra and band. Currently lives in New Zealand.

Bassim's and the family's photos http://insonewsletter.blogspot.com/2007/04/petros-family-in-pictures.html

Dr. Sabah H. Petros - Profile

Dr. Sabah Hanna Petros (1932 - )


Born in Baghdad 1932. He was a member teaching staff in Radiology and Ultrasound for the 6th year medical students & radiology diploma doctors at Baghdad University (Medical City) from 1972 to 1990. He has written in national and international journals (in most of the Arabic countries, England, France, Belgium, United States , India & Japan) numerous articles (almost all original) on X-Ray and Ultrasound.

Also a graduate of the Fine Arts Institute (1945-1952 part time study) specializing in clarinet. Sabah's clarinet teachers were Mr.Hanna Petros (Father), Mr. Munir Allahwerdi and others. He is a former member in the National Iraqi Symphony Orchestra (INSO) as a clarinet player.

Sabah's and the family's photos http://insonewsletter.blogspot.com/2007/04/petros-family-in-pictures.html

Nuri Bahjat -- Profile

Nuri Bahjat (1921- )

Graduated from the school of medicine in 1948. He was the first Iraqi doctor to specialize in Physiotherapy. While studying medicine, he joined evening classes to study the violin at ‘Maahad al Fonoon Al Jamila’ or ' The Fine Arts Institute' (1941-1946)

He was one of the members of the INSO when first founded, member of the Music Society in the school of medicine in the 40s, and one of the first to introduce chamber music to the Iraqi public. For those achievements, he was granted in 1991 & 92 a gold medal and the certificate of honour.
He was a faculty member in Maahad Alfinoon AlJamila and a lecturer in the Alfinnon Aljamila Academy 1959-1968.

Ghazi Bahjat in a 1972 Concert

The information is provided only for the top picture,

which is related to the 1972 concert at Al-Shaab Hall.

Back row (right to left): Zarinba (French Horn), ? (French Horn), Khalaf Jouda (Bassoon), ? (Percussion)

Second row (right to left): Mundhir Jameel Hafidh (Viola), Ghazi Bahjat (Oboe), Valeri Portsky (oboe), Fouad Al-Mashta (flute).

Front row (from right to left): ? Concert Master (Violin), (?) Violin,

George Mann (Violin).
? Contrabass far right is a Russian lady

Note: ? means name is unavailable

Ghazi Bahjat -- Profile

Concert in December 1964

from right to left:

Ghazi Bahjat

Mr. Schwartz (German)

Dr. Franz Schubert

Ihsan Ad.ham

Ghazi Mustafa Bahjat (1933 - ) :

Performed with the Fine Arts Institute Orchestra from 1954 to 1957 under the Romanian conductor Sando Albo then from 1957 to 1964, he went to W. Germany to further his studies in the oboe instrument. On his return in 1964, Ghazi joined the INSO until 1994 when he left Iraq for Jordan and joined the National Music Conservatory in Amman /Jordan as an oboe player and tutor until 1997 when he left for New Zealand. Since 1981 until he left Baghdad, he worked as an oboe tutor at the School of Music & Ballet. Currently he is a member of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra in New Zealand.

Hanna Petros -- Profile

1921 photo showing Hanna Petros, music teacher, band master at the Chaldean School in Mosul. He is sitting fourth from the left. One of Hanna's students, Saeed Shabo (famous composer of nationalistic songs) is sitting to the right side of Hanna.






Hanna Petros (1896-1958)

Composer, music educator and the founder of music educationin IRAQ, which included (but not limited to) the Iraqi Army MusicDepartment (1923), the Baghdad Music Conservatory (1936)and the Iraqi Police Music Band (1941). His "Rondo Oriental" was composed in 1937 for piano soloand was presented by the Romanian pianist and pianoinstructor, Julian Hertz, at the conservatory in Baghdad, as well as in Paris, Geneva and London during the 1940s.In the year 1976, the Orchestra's Russian conductor Youri Alieve converted the piece (Rondo Oriental) for string orchestra. It was performed by the INSO in Baghdad, Beruit, Moscow and Amman. Hanna's works included national songs, marshes for Wind Band and works for solo violin and piano.