Montélimar complex to be named after Aznavour

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS: The new complex, which is being built in Montélimar city of the Drôme Department located in the south-east of France, will be named after the world famous composer and chansonnier Charles Aznavour. As reported by Armenpress, quoting the French Le Dauphine, Aznavour gave a positive response to the request of the Montélimar-Sésame community on this occasion. The opening of the complex will be held in October with the participation of the great chansonnier and other popular guests.

The Deputy Mayor of Montélimar Franck Reynier considered the participation of the 89-year-old legend in the opening ceremony of their new complex a great honor.

The concert hall of the complex will have 1600 seats and another 4000 places for the standing audience. Though the day of the opening ceremony of the complex is not known yet, the first performances for the public will be held on October 19-20.

Armenian chansonnier, singer, composer, film actor and social activist Charles Aznavour (Shahan Vaghinak Aznavouryan) was born in Paris in 1924 to a family of Armenian migrants Mikayel and Knar Aznavouryans. As a young man he was fond of theatre, but in 1940s he started to give performances in cabaret with Pierre Roche.

Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world. Aznavour is known for his unique tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. He has appeared in more than sixty movies, composed about a thousand songs (including at least 150 in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish, and 50 in German), and sold well over 100 million records.

Artists who have recorded his songs and collaborated with Aznavour include Édith Piaf, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra (Aznavour was one of the rare European singers invited to duet with him), Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan (he named Aznavour among the greatest live performers he's ever seen), Liza Minnelli, Elton John, Dalida, Serge Gainsbourg, Josh Groban, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini, Nana Mouskouri and Julio Iglesias. Fellow French pop legend Mireille Mathieu has sung and recorded with Aznavour on numerous occasions. In 1974, Jack Jones recorded an entire album of Aznavour compositions entitled "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", re-released on CD in 2006. Aznavour and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti sang Gounod's aria Ave Maria together. He performed with famed Russian cellist and friend Mstislav Rostropovich to inaugurate the French presidency of the European Union in 1995.