Ibrahim Maalouf Brought to Tears After Receiving Armenian Duduk During Emotional Yerevan Gathering

Grammy-nominated musician Ibrahim Maalouf was brought to tears after receiving an Armenian duduk as a surprise gift during a private gathering in Yerevan, a deeply emotional moment captured on video during his first visit to Armenia.

The gathering took place after the Yerevan premiere of De Gaulle’s War, starring French-Armenian actor Simon Abkarian, as part of the 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival. Following the screening, acclaimed duduk player Kamo Seyranyan welcomed Maalouf, Abkarian and other festival guests into his home for an evening centered on Armenian music and hospitality.

During the visit, Seyranyan and Maalouf performed an impromptu duet, pairing the haunting sound of the duduk with Maalouf’s signature trumpet. At the end of the performance, Seyranyan surprised the internationally acclaimed Franco-Lebanese musician by presenting him with a duduk as a gift.

The gesture left Maalouf visibly moved. He broke into tears as he accepted the instrument, while Abkarian also became emotional as he witnessed the exchange.

The deeply personal evening came just days after Maalouf made his Armenian concert debut, performing before a packed audience at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex as part of the Golden Apricot festival. During his visit, he also served on the festival’s Regional Competition jury and toured the Komitas Museum-Institute, where he spoke about the importance of preserving cultural memory through art.

Later, Maalouf shared a video message on social media reflecting on his experience in Armenia. Although he does not speak Armenian, he used AI translation to deliver his message in Armenian to his followers.

“I spent one of the most beautiful days of my life in Yerevan,” he said.

Maalouf also thanked Armenians for their warm welcome, saying he was deeply touched by the audience at his Yerevan concert and by the generosity and hospitality he experienced throughout his stay.

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