Aznavour Charles: biography, creativity and the best songs of the French chansonnier

Charles Aznavour has long been recognized throughout the world as the best variety performer of the past century. Chansonier performs his own works, and also composes songs for other singers. In total, there are about a thousand song compositions created by Aznavour. Discs with its records are issued worldwide millions of copies. Charles Aznavour, whose songs are heard in many languages, continues to attract the attention of a large number of fans.

Sad Piero

All the song creativity of the artist is permeated with the aura of light sadness. Almost all of Aznavour's works are devoted to the theme of love and spiritual experiences. Even at the beginning of his creative life, he noticed that people are always interested in lyrical works based on sadness and melancholy, touching the soul and making the heart tremble. Due to his musical tastes, to which Aznavour remains faithful for more than sixty years, he was firmly entrenched in the image of a romantic and sad Pierrot.

This year on May 22 the famous chansonnier turned 90 years old. Charles Aznavour, whose biography began so long ago, met his jubilee on the Berlin stage with the special program "The Legend Returns." A week before his birthday Aznavour sang in Yerevan on the square bearing his name.

The most famous French Armenian

Shahnur Azavuryan (the real name of chansonnier) is the son of Armenian emigrants who were forced to leave their homeland in 1915, fleeing from the Armenian genocide. In the French manner, the boy soon became known as Charles.

Aznavour's parents were artists, creative people, so it was not easy for the family to emigrate. Father opened a small restaurant "Kavkaz" and for several years tried to keep in the role of an entrepreneur, although it was not so good for him. Aznavour's mother, a theater actress, was forced to become a seamstress.

The Aznavourian family lived hard, but in a house where peace and harmony always reigned, the atmosphere was filled with music, poetry, and theater. It is not surprising that little Charles already at the age of five appeared before the audience, playing music on the violin. After becoming a bit older, he danced Russian folk dances on stage and sang in a church choir.

Hard acting bread

The acting debut took place when Aznavour was only thirteen years old - he had the responsible role of King Henry IV as a child. For many years the actor vegetated on second roles in small tabloid theaters, sang in provincial cinemas in breaks between films.

And only in 19 years, Aznavour Charles dared to perform on the big stage. Unfortunately, he was in for a complete failure. The audience did not accept a small, frail man, not distinguished by special vocal data. He was booed by a ruthless public, and critics advised him to choose another occupation. But Charles did not think more of his life without music, so he still continued to do it.

Meeting with the Muse

Charles Aznavour and Edith Piaf met in 1946. Their meeting determined the further creative destiny of the artist. The singer was very affectionate towards the young man, helping and supporting him in every possible way. Aznavour has become for her an indispensable assistant, acting as an entertainer, secretary, personal driver and kind friend. In the repertoire of Piaf was the song of Charles "Jezebel" (Isabel), which enjoyed unchanged success with the public.

Great Edith was able to discern for the modest appearance of the artist his rich inner world, great talent and creative charisma. She inspired Aznavour and became for him a real teacher, master, having managed to convey to him his vision of the song and a special creative perception.

Their relationship itself chansonnier called "cute slavery", which lasted about eight years. Thanks to this, Aznavour was formed as an independent and strong personality, becoming a full-fledged creator and performer of songs about loneliness and unrequited love.

Finally came the success

Very soon the artist came to great glory. In 1954, Aznavour conquered the hearts of American listeners with the song "My life" (Sur ma vie). Subsequently, it was performed for many years by the famous French singer Joe Dassin, making it his business card. During this period, the surname Aznavourian lost a small particle, and from now on the artist began to call himself Aznavour Charles. The number of songs written independently reached three dozen, and he did not dwell on it.

Charles Aznavour, a singer and composer, also successfully mastered the profession of a film actor, playing for the first time in 1955. Popularity and recognition brought him the role of pianist cabaret in the French director Francois Truffaut's movie "Shoot the pianist." In the future, Aznavour has repeatedly starred in leading directors Jean Cocteau, Claude Chabrol, Volker Schlendorf.

In 1983, Charles Aznavour, a biography in the movie that was already rich enough, brilliantly played in the film by Claude Lelouch "Edith and Marcel". The role became special for the artist, because it was the love story of Edith Piaf and Marcel Sedana.

In the early 60's, the artist had a great success in New York, performing with songs in the famous "Carnegie Hall." The audience listened, forgetting about everything, his soft and penetrating voice, singing about the passion and beauty of love. Now Charles Aznavour, whose photo appeared on the covers of numerous magazines and envelopes with records, became known as a singer of French blues. His work was compared to the famous American singer, romanticist Frank Sinatra.

Aznavour Charles continued to create songs, many of which became hits: "Sa jeunesse" ("This youth"), "Apres l'amour" ("After love"), "Parce que" ("Because"), "Mourir d 'Aimer' ("To die of love").

The sweet burden of glory

1965 in Paris was marked by the successful premiere of the operetta Monsieur Carnaval ("Monsieur Carnaval"), written by Charles Aznavour. In the same year, the singer gave solo concerts for two months in a row, performing together with the orchestra conducted by Paul Maria. And again, the continued success. Glory and popularity have always been where Aznavour appeared. Charles was grateful for his destiny, always remaining at the same time a gentle, modest and reserved person.

The popularity of the artist has constantly increased. This was facilitated by regular performances, tours, recording of new albums. In 1973, in London, Charles Aznavour's song "She" ("She") received gold and platinum discs. The event for those times is unheard of, because never before such high awards were appropriated to the French.

In 1981 the new album "Charles Aznavour chante Dimey" became a kind of result of the forty-year creative activity of the famous singer and composer. The next album of the author's name "Aznavour" saw the world in 1986.

In Russia, one of the most famous songs of the composer was "Une Vie D'Amour" ("Eternal Love"), written by the author for the cult film "Teheran 43" (directors Alov and Naumov). At concerts, Charles Aznavour and Mireille Mathieu performed this song many times with a duet, and always the audience asked to repeat it for an encore.

Armenia is my love

He always remembers his Armenian roots and always keeps in touch with his historical homeland.

In 1988, Charles Aznavour, after the Armenian earthquake, was one of the first to come to the aid of his fellow countrymen. He became the organizer of the disaster relief fund, which later grew into the Aznavour and Armenia association. He constantly participates in the construction of schools for Armenian children. Now Shanson is Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland and represents his homeland in the UN headquarters.

Under the roof of the house

Aznavour was never famous for scandals, his life is always hidden from prying eyes. The artist was married three times, although he never had the glory of a ladies' man. From his first marriage, Aznavour has an adult daughter, who is already 67 years old. With the current wife, Swedish Ulla Tursel, the singer will soon celebrate the golden wedding.

By his own admission, it was love for a woman that allowed Aznavour to experience the happiest and most dramatic moments. Marriage with Ulla completely changed his life. Three children were born and grew up: a daughter Katya and two sons: Misha and Nichola. Since 1977, Aznavour and his family settled in Switzerland.

90 years of life full of creativity

To the present jubilee of the great chansonnier in France was released a complete collection of his albums, recorded on 32 discs. It contains all the author's records since 1948. Charles Aznavour is still full of strength and energy. He is writing a new album, which will be called "Nostalgia".

To a lot of his brilliant abilities, Charles Aznavour also added the talent of the writer. He writes novels, continues to work on his biography, creates notes from his own thoughts, aphorisms and past stories.

According to the great chanson, the capricious muse has never left him alone. He constantly creates, being in an eternal search. He draws on life for creativity, which is rooted in the Armenian land. It is from there that his language, songs, musicality. A singer born in France, living in Switzerland, always remains a true patriot of Armenia.