Djivan Gasparyan
Djivan Gasparyan is unquestionably one of Armenia's greatest musicians, a living legend and one of the world’s great musicians. He is the foremost virtuoso of the duduk, an ancient oboe-like instrument that is made of apricot wood and capable of sustaining drone notes for long periods of time. It is said that no other instrument is able to convey the emotions of the Armenian people as well as the duduk. In the hands of the master musician the duduk becomes the vehicle for haunting and meditative music that eloquently evokes the Armenian landscape and its people. Gasparyan has toured Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In the US has performed extensively in New York and Los Angeles (where he appeared with the LA Philharmonic). His recording of a selection of Armenian folk songs and ballads entitled I will not be Sad in This World, (1989) dedicated to the victims of the Armenian earthquake has received worldwide recognition. He has collaborated with Lional Richie and has recorded soundtracks for 18 films including RussiaHouse, The Crow, and Atom Egoyan's film Calendar, the American Hungarian television co-production Storm and Sorrow, in 1999, The Seige (Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington), Onegin (Ralph Finnes) Blood Diamond (2006) and in 2000 the Oscar winning Gladiator.
