Today is the birthday of Aram Khachaturian. You know, the guy who wrote that frenetic music that makes you want to spin plates on sticks.

Here’s the “Sabre Dance,” with Khachaturian conducting:

Liberace gives it a whirl:

Mstislav Rostropovich, the soloist, with again the composer conducting (and highly-decorated), in Khachaturian’s “Concerto-Rhapsody”

Adagio from the ballet “Spartacus”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXsDsLHasWo

Cristian Macelaru and the West German Radio Symphony Orchestra in a mesmerizing visual fantasy on the Romance from Khachaturian’s “Masquerade Suite”

Khachaturian at the piano!

Happy birthday, Aram Khachaturian!

PHOTO: Troika! (Right to left) Khachaturian with Shostakovich and Prokofiev