Djivan Gasparyan marks 65th anniversary of musical career

At his meeting with journalists Aug 11, the renowned Armenian musician and duduk-player Djivan Gasparyan told them about his plans to give a concert at the Yerevan Opera on August 15.

"We have decided to give a grand concert at the Opera House. I want to perform with Armenian musicians. We have excellent performers," said Gasparyan, who is marking the 65th anniversary of his musical career.

The renowned musician said that the concert will be a grand one because not only traditional Armenian music, but also pop, jazz and well-known sound tracks, will be performed on the duduk (Tsiranapogh). The jubilee concert will feature such well-known Armenian musicians as the pianists Vahagn Hayrapetyan and Armen Babakhanyan, singer Anna Balyan, and Djivan Gasparyan's grandson, Djivan Gasparyan, who plays the duduk as well.

"Who could have imagined that you can even perform Bach on the Tsiranapogh," Gasparyan said.

The legendary Armenian musician Djivan Gasparyan has played the duduk for 72 years. "I have performed about 20,000 concerts with the world's greatest musicians. I performed for Stalin, Kennedy, as well as with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). I think I am one of the happiest people in the world because I have represented Armenia worldwide," he said.

The musician also stated his intention to repeat his jubilee concert in Gyumri and Spitak as well. The concerts will be free.
Djivan Gasparyan plans to leave the scene to train a young generation of duduk players.

Djivan Gasparyan's worthiest successor is, the renowned musician says, his own grandson. "Djivan is really talented. He is not my grandson, he is my last pupil" he said.