Young Jivan Gasparyan with friends

According to the source, the photograph shows the young Jivan Gasparyan, who later became a world-famous duduk player. He is in the centre of the picture. There are five young men: the one seated in the centre plays a wind instrument, the one seated on the right holds a frame drum, and the two standing behind hold glasses.

The source relates that in 1947, aged 19, Jivan took part in amateur art concerts. After a performance in Moscow, in the Kremlin, he was handed a red box containing an engraved watch, a gift from Joseph Stalin. The post-war years were hard and the young musicians were hungry, so Jivan exchanged the watch for 4 mugs of beer and a few pies. Years later he remembered this story with a smile.