concerts and ceremonies in Paris, a complete CD, a stamp… Some highlights of the commemorations

Charles Aznavour would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday May 22. More than five years after his death, his admirers are there to celebrate the day of his birth. Little review of tributes to Paris… with a detour through Armenia.

Born on May 22, 1924, in Paris, Charles Aznavour dreamed of reaching the age of 100 and celebrating it with his older sister Aïda. If life has decided otherwise, the most fervent admirers of the Franco-Armenian singer intend to participate, in different ways, in the celebrations of his centenary. Small anthology of tributes.

A concert at the Grand Rex

Saturday May 25 in Paris, the Grand Rex is hosting a major evening dedicated to the work of Charles Aznavour. During this recital, Aznavour’s most famous songs will be performed by Jules Grison, an artist who distinguished himself in 2022 in the tribute “And Now” paid to Gilbert Bécaud, but also, already, to Charles Aznavour with the comedy musical “Formidable!” in 2017. The singer will be accompanied by a symphony orchestra on arrangements signed by Nobuyuki Nakajima (Gainsbourg Symphonic, Piaf Symphonique). A show produced by Gil Marsalla & Directo Prod.

Hall of Song: a show with inmates

Inaugurated as part of the Vis-à-vis festival, from May 17 to the 24, the Hall of Song, in Paris, presents “And yet – Aznavour les 100 ans”. This show brings together twelve student artists from the Hall High School and eight amateur artists placed under custody at the Meaux penitentiary center. Together, they perform Aznavour songs. There are only two dates left, sold out it seems… Let’s hope there will be more soon.

Symphonic Aznavour at the Philharmonie de Paris in September

On Saturday September 28, 2024, the Lamoureux Orchestra, accompanied by several guest singers, will revisit the singer’s repertoire, with the assistance of the Aznavour Foundation. This concert will be held as part of special days dedicated to Armenia and its culture at the Philharmonie, from September 26 to 29. Let us remember that Armenia is in the spotlight in this year 2024, marked not only by the entry into the Pantheon of Missak Manouchian, but also by the 100th birthday of Charles Aznavour.

A complete event: 100 CDs for a centenary

On May 10, 2024, the Panthéon label (Universal Music France) launched a completely extraordinary complete box set. It brings together everything that Charles Aznavour has recorded during his long career, in French, English, Italian, Spanish or German, live or in the studio, as a duo or solo, albums, EPs, singles, alternative versions, records for children, original instrumentals to be able to sing yourself… This mine of some 1,800 titles constitutes the culmination of a crazy work of inventory of foreign vinyls and thousands of archived master tapes, carried out with enthusiasts and specialists . The box set, which costs around 300 euros, finally contains a 64-page booklet with rare photos.

A stamp in tribute to the singer

On June 3, 2024, La Poste will put into service a “collection” stamp bearing the image of Charles Aznavour. “A philatelic issue which is part of an exceptional year for Armenia in France”, La Poste specified on February 28 in a press release. The portrait of the singer was taken by Hom Nguyen, a French artist of Vietnamese origin, who was inspired by a photo by Roger Kasparian, a famous Franco-Armenian photographer who talentedly immortalized the 1960s, who died on February 15 . The stamp will be on sale at the price of 1.96 euros.

After the bust in 2021, a garden in Paris

Wednesday May 22, 2024, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Aznavour, a garden renamed in his name is to be inaugurated in Paris in the 8th arrondissement, at the bottom of the Champs-Élysées. This is the Ledoyen square, a portion of the Champs-Élysées gardens, which faces the Ambassadeurs-Line Renaud garden inaugurated in 2023. Three years earlier, on May 22, 2021, a bust in the image of the singer had was inaugurated at the Odéon crossroads, next to rue Monsieur-le-Prince where Charles Aznavour had lived his young years with his parents and his sister Aïda.

A commemorative plaque in Paris

On May 16, 2024 in Paris, a plaque in tribute to Charles Aznavour was unveiled at 22 rue Navarin, in the 9th arrondissement. This is where the Aznavourian family lived during the Second World War. Resistance fighters like Missak and Mélinée Manouchian – who entered the Pantheon on February 21 – found refuge there. Armenian Ambassador to France Hasmik Tolmajian and Mayor of the 9th Delphine Bürkli were present at the ceremony. Students from Condorcet high school also attended. These high school students, who worked on Charles Aznavour during the school year, were to participate in a commemorative event at their establishment Tuesday afternoon, May 21.

A literary prize, Aznavour words of love

It has existed since 2023, but it is fully part of a commemorative framework. Founded by Mischa Aznavour, the Aznavour Prize for Words of Love celebrates love in contemporary literature. Perrine Tripier, with her novel The Precious Wars, was distinguished during the first edition. The winning work of the year 2024 must be known on Wednesday May 22, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Aznavour. Four finalists are in the running.

In Armenia, a commemorative gold coin

Furthermore, on Monday May 20, the Central Bank of Armenia, the country where the Aznavourian family has its roots, put into circulation some 500 collectible gold coins in tribute to Charles Aznavour for the centenary of his birth. These pieces were designed by Vardan Vardanyan (front) and Karen Melikyan (back) respectively.