Masterclass

Michèle Lubicz | doudouk player

A violinist and flautist by training, I discovered the duduk thanks to my violinist friend Armène Stakian, who introduced me to a CD by Djivan Gasparian. That was the start of a beautiful, and equally unexpected, musical story.

My encounter with the doudouk took me all the way to Marseilles to try and unlock some of the instrument's secrets with Lévon Minassian. This was followed by trips to Armenia, the discovery of a culture, a country, a language, and working with musicians in Yerevan. I was lucky enough to meet and play for the great doudouk master Djivan Gasparian. I shared the stage with Lévon Minassian for several years, played alongside him at UNESCO in Paris and took part in several concerts and festivals. I have also worked with Vartan Hovanissian and Artak Azatryan, among others.

I composed and performed a piece for choir and doudouk in one of the seasons of the "Chœur des chants du monde".

I'm a member of the Michel Tirabosco and Friends ensemble, which brings together eight instrumentalists to perform a repertoire of world music.

When three Armenian doudouks were presented to the Geneva Museum of Art and History, I was invited to play in the presence of the Armenian Ambassador.

Many musicians and actors from all walks of life call on me and my duduks for various musical performances. These include Michel Tirabosco in his « carte blanche » show at the Victoria Hall, Karine and Armine Mkrtchyan, singers whom I accompanied at the Victoria Hall in a programme of Armenian songs, Loriane Cherpillod, actress, in the show "Au nom de la mère" based on the book by E. de Luca, Greg Turini in his creation Canvas of the life, and the singer Nicolas Fraissinet with whom I regularly perform one of his songs on stage.

My travels in Armenia have enabled me to forge strong links with duduk makers, who now give me access to the best instruments.

I currently have around ten duduk students in Geneva.