Yiànnis Hryssomàllis, the Greek pianist, keyboardist and composer, better known to the world as simply Yanni, arrived in Armenia on April 18 for his upcoming concerts on the 20th and 21st.

It’s his second visit to Armenia, confessing that he was so impressed with the country and its people the first time, that he made a promise to return.

“I’m really happy that I’ve come back. I really enjoy myself here. You really get a feel for that great Armenian hospitality,” he told reporters at a press conference.

He said that the response of the audience during his first trip was one of the best of his whole career. This time, Yanni has brought his sister to experience that same warm response.

Joining Yanni on stage this time will be the violinist Samvel Yervinyan, who has performed in Yanni’s group on and off since 2003.

“I will be playing with my Armenian brother Samvel Yervinyan, the best violinist in the world. I had been looking for the best and found Samvel. After listening to him play, I knew that for a fact,” Yanni said.

Yanni’s two Yerevan performances will take place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports/Concert Complex. Tickets are going for 5,000 to 80,000 AMD

Yanni says concert goers can expect a number of surprises but that he will keep them a secret.

“I always like to take my audience on a musical journey that is full of surprises,” he said.

The two Yerevan performances are part of Yanni’s world tour that will later visit China.

Over the course of his musical career, Yanni has performed live in concert before more than two million people in more than twenty countries.

His breakthrough 1993 Yanni Live at the Acropolis concert yielded the second bast-selling music video of all time.

Yanni has employed musicians of various nationalities, and has incorporated a variety of instruments from around the world to create music that has been called an eclectic fusion of ethnic sounds.

Influenced by his encounters with cultures around the world, his music is said to reflect his “one world, one people” philosophy.