Luminaries Reflect on Charles Aznavour’s Achievements, Comment on His Activism
Wed, May 4 2011
By: Taleen Babayan
Aznavour to Be Honored in New York City
Esteemed and respected musicians, artists, and community leaders from
across the globe will gather to pay tribute to one of the world’s
greatest musicians and entertainers, Charles Aznavour, in a
star-studded event to take place at the exquisite Cipriani Wall Street
on Friday evening, May 20.
Charles Aznavour
The evening will serve as an opportunity to highlight not only
Aznavour’s talents but his decades-long service to Armenia on the eve
of the republic’s 20th anniversary of regaining its independence.
Presenting the award to Aznavour will be the famous actress and singer
Liza Minnelli, whose friendship with him dates back almost 50 years.
Seeing Aznavour perform on stage for the first time was `magnetic’ for
Minnelli. `The minute he walked onstage, I stopped breathing,’ she
said.
One of Aznavour’s greatest strengths, she continued, is his ability to
tell stories through his music. Following his performance, Minnelli
realized she wanted to be a storyteller like Aznavour, and when she
asked him to be her mentor, he agreed.
`I never did a show without showing it to him first. Ever,’ she said.
Minnelli noted how important Aznavour’s Armenian heritage was for him.
`People would say he is a Frenchman, but he would say, `No, I am
Armenian,” she said. `There was such pride in that.’
Minnelli spoke of Aznavour’s dedication and commitment to Armenia,
especially his efforts during the 1988 earthquake, which took the
lives of 50,000 Armenians. `He put all his passion, time, and
stubbornness into helping Armenia, and it was spectacular,’ she said.
Another world-famous singer who was affected by Aznavour’s music is
Celine Dion, who was introduced to his work by her mother when she was
a young girl. `It was an honor and a grand privilege for me to sing
with him,’ said Dion, recalling how she performed with him years
later. `Not only is he one of the biggest stars in the history of
France, but he’s also a very kind and gentle person.’
Featured alongside Aznavour in Atom Egoyan’s 2002 film `Ararat,’ actor
and playwright Eric Bogosian commends him for the attention he has
brought to Armenia and to the Armenian Genocide.
`He is one of the most brilliantly focused individuals,’ said
Bogosian, who will serve as master of ceremonies for the gala. `And he
has been a gift to people around the world.’
As a young student in Beirut, Lebanon, Vartan Gregorian, the president
of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, fondly recalls listening to
Aznavour, describing him as an `artist with a social conscience.’
Gregorian noted Aznavour’s success in rising to international stardom
without forgetting his roots. `He is the embodiment of the best we can
have for the world,’ said Gregorian. `He symbolized, for me, that the
unique – the Armenian – can be universal without dissolving itself.’
As a representative of the Armenian government, UN Ambassador Garen
Nazarian cited Aznavour as a `tireless advocate’ for Armenia and
worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He described
Aznavour’s service to Armenia as `truly commendable.’
`For me personally, his image of an exceptional artist and great
Armenian is inspirational and empowering,’ said Nazarian.
The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) will honor Charles Aznavour for his
dedication, service, and efforts in Armenia on May 20 at Cipriani Wall
Street, 55 Wall Street, New York. The reception will begin at 7 p.m.,
with the dinner and program beginning at 8 p.m. Proceeds will benefit
programs for the elderly in Armenia. For more information or tickets,
visit or call (212) 889-5150.
The Honorary Committee for FAR’s Charles Aznavour Tribute includes
Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Placido Domingo, Atom
Egoyan, Arsinee Khanjian, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Michael
Bloomberg (mayor of New York City), Charles E. Schumer (U.S. Senator),
Eduard Nalbandian (minister of foreign affairs of Armenia), Gerard
Araud (ambassador, permanent representative of French Republic to UN),
Francois Delattre (ambassador of French Republic to the U.S.), Edward
Djerejian, Tatoul Markarian (ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to
the U.S.), Garen Nazarian, Vartan Gregorian, Clive Gillinson
(executive and artistic director, Carnegie Hall), Reynold Levy
(president, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts), Joseph Polisi
(president, Juilliard School), James Wolfensohn (president emeritus,
the World Bank), Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America, Eastern), Archbishop Demetrios
(primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America), Archbishop Timothy
Dolan (archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York),
Rabbi Arthur Schneier (president of the Appeal of Conscience
Foundation), and Bishop Mark Sisk (bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of
New York).
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/05/04/luminaries-reflect-on-charles-aznavour%e2%80%99s-achievements-comment-on-his-activism/
www.farusa.org