Konstantin Solomonovich Saradzhev
Saradzhev, Konstantin Solomonovich
(also K. S. Saradzhian). Born Sept. 27 (Oct. 9), 1877, in Derbent; died July 22, 1954, in Yerevan. Soviet conductor, teacher, and music figure. People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR (1945); Hero of Labor (1921).
Saradzhev graduated in 1898 from the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied violin under I. V. Grzhimali and counterpoint under S. I. Taneev. From 1904 to 1906 he studied conducting under A. Nikisch in Leipzig. Between 1924 and 1935 he led an amateur symphony orchestra in Moscow, which was named after him in 1926. In 1935, Saradzhev took up residence in Yerevan, where he served as principal conductor of the A. Spendiarov Armenian Theater of Opera and Ballet until 1939; he was also music director and principal conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. He began teaching in 1918, in which year he became a professor. From 1922 to 1935 he taught at the Moscow Conservatory; in 1936 he began teaching at the Yerevan Conservatory.
Saradzhev was awarded the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.