Legendary French-Armenian chansonier Charles Aznavour, often described as the “Frank Sinatra of France”, visits Armenia at least once every year. His last visit was notable for both all Armenians and Charle Aznavour himself. He celebrated his 85th birthday on May 22 during “For you, Armenia” (“Pour Toi, Armenie”) concert.
Aznavour was born in Paris, the son of Armenian immigrants Michael Aznavourian (from Aktaltsikhe in Georgia ) and Knar Bagdasarian (from Turkey ), who fled to France following the Turkish massacre. His artistic talent was demonstrated at an early age. He was aspired to the artistically life. He began to perform and soon took the stage name “Aznavour”. His big break came when the singer Edith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.
Charles Aznavour sings mostly about love. He has written more than 800 songs and ballads, appeared in more than 60 movies, recorded more than 1,000 songs (in French, over 150 songs in English, 50 in German, 100 in Italian and 70 in Spanish) and sold over 100 million records in all. Aznavour speaks and sings in many languages. He was chosen as Entertainer of the Century (1998) by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century’s outstanding performer, with nearly 18 % of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.
Aznavour and Armenia
After an earthquake in 1988, which killed 25,000 people, he has been helping the country through his charity – “Aznavour for Armenia” Committee. In the following year, he wrote and recorded a charity single, “Pour toi Armenia” (For You, Armenia), which was performed by a group of famous French artists.
In 1995 Charles Aznavour was chosen an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has given more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992.
Aznavour performed a major concert in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia to start off the cultural season “Arménie mon amie” in France (on 30 September, 2006). The open-air concert in Stepanakert was attended by Aznavour himself and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian. The concert stimulated the interest of a numerous audience who were excited about the presence of an outstanding Armenian in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street, and a statue erected in Gyumri as an expression of thanks to Aznavour .
In 2004 Aznavour received the title of “National Hero” of Armenia for his humanitarian work, Armenia’s highest award. On December 26, 2008, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a presidential decree for granting citizenship for the Republic of Armenia to Charles Aznavour whom he called a “prominent singer and public figure” and “a hero of the Armenian people”. A square in downtown Yerevan was named after him in 2001.
Charles Aznavour, was offered to become Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland and nearly agreed to take up the vacant post:
“The president of Armenia once offered me to become Armenia’s ambassador in Geneva. I felt very proud and happy on that day. But then I figured that if I accept the offer I will lose my freedom. I can’t lose my freedom for an honorable post.”
