On May 9, a new duet premiered featuring Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser and Kazakh vocalist Dimash Qudaibergen. The piece, titled Stranger, was recorded in Budapest during the filming of the 10th anniversary season of the music project Virtuosos, where both artists served as jury members.

Stranger, composed by renowned Russian musician Igor Qrutoy especially for Dimash, blends a modern arrangement with the haunting sound of the traditional Kazakh instrument, the qobyz. This fusion brings a unique depth and emotional resonance to the composition.

Dimash envisioned adding the qobyz to the song the moment he first heard the melody. Greek producer Dimitris Kontopoulos and Kazakh sound engineer Yerlan Bekchurin masterfully combined their expertise, allowing the folk instrument to fit seamlessly into the arrangement.

The song originally premiered in 2021 at the opening of the New Wave international music competition in Sochi, Russia. Since then, Dimash has performed Stranger together with qobyz virtuoso Olzhas Qurmanbek at major events and solo concerts across Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Europe, introducing global audiences to the mesmerizing voice of the qobyz.

Dimash’s new idea to include a cello part in the song immediately resonated with Hauser. After working together in the studio, the duo recorded the updated version during the Virtuosos project.
With its sweeping sound and emotional power, Stranger has become the title track of Dimash’s current world tour.

Dear friends, you’re warmly invited to the Stranger show:
• November 8 – Barcelona
• November 12 – London
• November 14 – Berlin
• December 12 – Riga

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