Max Derrickson

Aram Khachaturian   (June 6, 1903 – May 1, 1978)

Valse from Masquerade

There are hints of terribly sinister things in this short masterpiece, and yet Khachaturian’s Valse (1941) is also exotically beautiful and sweeping.  The story behind Masquerade is about unchecked jealousy, egos and unfolding tragedy. This waltz scene at the masquerade ball is where all the wicked wheels are set into motion, and which gave Khachaturian the most trouble in the score, as, to reflect the script, he needed to [. . .]