The concert “Jivan Gasparyan and Friends” took place at the Bolshoi Theater. In addition to his own

The concert “Jivan Gasparyan and Friends” took place at the Bolshoi Theater. In addition to his own ensemble, an international cast of foreign musicians performed on stage with Jivan Gasparyan. Apparently, the Armenian duduk player has no shortage of friends: the Bolshoi hall was completely packed.
At first, the organizers were going to organize a concert, like last year, in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. But then they changed their minds and decided that since Bjork herself was going to perform at the Bolshoi Theater, then the best duduk in the world would seem quite appropriate. Jivan Gasparyan himself did not want to create a stir around the upcoming concert, but no promotion was required. The name of the musician who devoted almost 70 years to playing the “Caucasian oboe” made of apricot wood, worked with Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno, recorded the CD “Heavenly Duduk” and the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator" (Gladiator), became the best promotion. Tickets for the only concert of the Djivan Gasparyan ensemble sold out at lightning speed, and before the start of the performance, a ticket worth 20 rubles went from the hands of speculators on the love of music for the entire thousand. A good half of those sitting in the hall were Armenian art connoisseurs who came to Jivan-jan’s concert, if not accompanied by the whole family, then with the obligatory bouquet of flowers. Those especially in the know were worried about the health of the main duduk player - Jivan Gasparyan had a slight cold, which even some members of the group became infected with. But everything worked out, and the pride of Yerevan took to the stage with their retinue in good health.
Before the start of the concert, its organizer Nikolai Dmitriev urged people to perceive the performance not as an official concert, but as an informal party. Although in Moscow, Jivan Gasparyan worked with the same group of musicians with whom he played in a very official situation - in Yerevan at the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. Only Michael Brook was absent. In addition to his own ensemble, the duduk player brought six musicians. The main stars among the guests were Israeli countertenor Emil Zrihan and saxophonist Didier Malherbe, who played with the famous French group Gong. The only Russian in the international company of French, Italian and Israeli musicians was vocalist and clarinetist Sergei Starostin.
The evening was opened by Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, performing a heartfelt lyrical composition. The second number of the program was the appearance of the 74-year-old maestro himself in national costume. The first part consisted of compositions in ethnic style, alternating with piano solo numbers. The highlight of the program was the brilliant performance of vocalist Emil Zrihan. Having demonstrated his virtuoso mastery of vocal technique, the countertenor immediately modestly disappeared backstage. But neither Emil Zrihan nor Didier Malherbe, taken together, evoked such a reaction from listeners as the performance of Jivan Gasparyan himself. During the solo of the main duduk of the country, the audience applauded without ceasing, and when, at the end of the three-hour concert, the maestro approached the people and performed an Armenian folk song, the delight of the listeners knew no bounds. The audience calmed down only after manager Djivan Gasparyan appeared on stage in a red robe down to his toes. The girl, in English, promised Moscow fans a quick meeting with the art of her ward, who is now packing his bags to play a concert in St. Petersburg. Of course, in the company of friends.
ALYA Kommersant-Kharchenko

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 62 dated April 10, 2002, p. 14

Duduk doesn't come alone