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CONCERT SHOWCASES THE MUSIC OF CHARLES AZNAVOUR
The Times & Transcript (New Brunswick), Canada
October 9, 2013 Wednesday
As a part of the Moncton Armenian Festival, whose goal is to promote
Armenian culture in Metro Moncton, a special tribute to the work of
French-Armenian artist Charles Aznavour will take place at Moncton's
Capitol Theatre this Thursday evening.
The show will feature local and national talent, including popular
French musicians Marie-Jo Therio, Sandra Le Couteur, Lina Boudreau,
Michel Carpentier and Serge Bedrossian, an Armenian singer-songwriter
and composer who sings in 10 different languages.
Also taking part in this celebratory evening of music is Moncton
choral group Les Jeunes Chanteurs d'Acadie as well as 16-year-old
Maxime Robichaud.
The Moncton Armenian Festival, celebrated bi-annually, launched in
2005. This year's festival got under way at the Aberdeen Cultural
Centre last week. The founder of the festival, Sylvia Kasparian,
says that Thursday's show honouring Aznavour, arguably one of the
biggest musical icons of the last century, is only appropriate on
the eve of Aznavour's 90th birthday.
Aznavour is an internationally acclaimed author, singer-songwriter,
composer and actor whose career has spanned the last seven decades. He
has appeared in more than 60 movies, composing more than 1,000 songs,
which have helped him sell more than 100 million records.
"Charles Aznavour is such a unique artist. His voice and his sound
isn't one that is easily imitated," Kasparian begins. "At the outset
of his music career, he was told he didn't have a good singing voice
and yet, he is on the verge of turning 90 and still singing."
Kasparian admits that while she would have loved to have Aznavour in
attendance at this coming Thursday's show, his schedule simply did
not allow that to happen.
"I thought that right now was the right time to honour him. I believe
that this is a project that will have a little something for everyone,
no matter what their age. Young and older people alike listen to
his music. It is really truly amazing to see the longevity that his
music has had. I think that a big reason for that is the fact that
his songs come from the heart. He has an incredible passion for words
and is very poetic with the way he sings."
Born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian in Paris, Aznavour's parents were
Armenian immigrants who fled the threat of massacre by the Turks during
the First World War. Aznavour's father was a singer while his mother
was an actress and part-time seamstress. It was little surprise that
Aznavour eventually found his way to the stage.
Before he started making music however, Aznavour was a star of the
theatrical and cinematic stage, making his stage and screen debuts
at the age of nine. Although he was reportedly hesitant about his
singing abilities, the legendary Edith Piaf, for whom he also served
as a chauffeur, coached him. It was with her help that Aznavour
developed his style and while not initially received with open arms,
Aznavour's breakthrough would happen in Casablanca in 1956. He would
eventually sign with Reprise Records in the United States, the record
label that was founded and run by the legendary Frank Sinatra.
Proving that the music of Aznavour is something that appeals to
multiple generations of fans, Robichaud was introduced to Aznavour's
catalogue by her father around the time that she was four years old.
She admits that while she could not necessarily understand what
Aznavour was saying or singing about, there was some inexplicable
force that continued to draw her to his music.
"When I became old enough to understand the meaning behind the songs,
he became one of my absolute favourite artists," Robichaud says. "He
is not just a singer - he is almost a magician with the way he is
so passionate about his music and how he can bring out such strong
emotions in people with his songs. His songs have touched me rather
deeply."
Robichaud had the chance to see Aznavour perform live while in France
a number of years back. She says that from the moment the vocalist
took the stage, he had simply captivated the audience to the point
that it might have actually been possible to hear a pin drop.
"People didn't hesitate to sing along at times during the show but for
the most part, the crowd was very quiet and very respectful. I looked
around at people watching the show and couldn't help but noticed that
people were almost hypnotized while he was on stage.
"The way that he spoke to the crowd and took his time to properly
introduce songs and describe them in a way that everyone could
understand and appreciate was amazing. His passion for words was
really something amazing to have had the opportunity to see in person."
? Ken Kelley is a Moncton-based writer, music fanatic and author of
the entertainment blog musicnerd.ca
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
The Times & Transcript (New Brunswick), Canada
October 9, 2013 Wednesday
As a part of the Moncton Armenian Festival, whose goal is to promote
Armenian culture in Metro Moncton, a special tribute to the work of
French-Armenian artist Charles Aznavour will take place at Moncton's
Capitol Theatre this Thursday evening.
The show will feature local and national talent, including popular
French musicians Marie-Jo Therio, Sandra Le Couteur, Lina Boudreau,
Michel Carpentier and Serge Bedrossian, an Armenian singer-songwriter
and composer who sings in 10 different languages.
Also taking part in this celebratory evening of music is Moncton
choral group Les Jeunes Chanteurs d'Acadie as well as 16-year-old
Maxime Robichaud.
The Moncton Armenian Festival, celebrated bi-annually, launched in
2005. This year's festival got under way at the Aberdeen Cultural
Centre last week. The founder of the festival, Sylvia Kasparian,
says that Thursday's show honouring Aznavour, arguably one of the
biggest musical icons of the last century, is only appropriate on
the eve of Aznavour's 90th birthday.
Aznavour is an internationally acclaimed author, singer-songwriter,
composer and actor whose career has spanned the last seven decades. He
has appeared in more than 60 movies, composing more than 1,000 songs,
which have helped him sell more than 100 million records.
"Charles Aznavour is such a unique artist. His voice and his sound
isn't one that is easily imitated," Kasparian begins. "At the outset
of his music career, he was told he didn't have a good singing voice
and yet, he is on the verge of turning 90 and still singing."
Kasparian admits that while she would have loved to have Aznavour in
attendance at this coming Thursday's show, his schedule simply did
not allow that to happen.
"I thought that right now was the right time to honour him. I believe
that this is a project that will have a little something for everyone,
no matter what their age. Young and older people alike listen to
his music. It is really truly amazing to see the longevity that his
music has had. I think that a big reason for that is the fact that
his songs come from the heart. He has an incredible passion for words
and is very poetic with the way he sings."
Born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian in Paris, Aznavour's parents were
Armenian immigrants who fled the threat of massacre by the Turks during
the First World War. Aznavour's father was a singer while his mother
was an actress and part-time seamstress. It was little surprise that
Aznavour eventually found his way to the stage.
Before he started making music however, Aznavour was a star of the
theatrical and cinematic stage, making his stage and screen debuts
at the age of nine. Although he was reportedly hesitant about his
singing abilities, the legendary Edith Piaf, for whom he also served
as a chauffeur, coached him. It was with her help that Aznavour
developed his style and while not initially received with open arms,
Aznavour's breakthrough would happen in Casablanca in 1956. He would
eventually sign with Reprise Records in the United States, the record
label that was founded and run by the legendary Frank Sinatra.
Proving that the music of Aznavour is something that appeals to
multiple generations of fans, Robichaud was introduced to Aznavour's
catalogue by her father around the time that she was four years old.
She admits that while she could not necessarily understand what
Aznavour was saying or singing about, there was some inexplicable
force that continued to draw her to his music.
"When I became old enough to understand the meaning behind the songs,
he became one of my absolute favourite artists," Robichaud says. "He
is not just a singer - he is almost a magician with the way he is
so passionate about his music and how he can bring out such strong
emotions in people with his songs. His songs have touched me rather
deeply."
Robichaud had the chance to see Aznavour perform live while in France
a number of years back. She says that from the moment the vocalist
took the stage, he had simply captivated the audience to the point
that it might have actually been possible to hear a pin drop.
"People didn't hesitate to sing along at times during the show but for
the most part, the crowd was very quiet and very respectful. I looked
around at people watching the show and couldn't help but noticed that
people were almost hypnotized while he was on stage.
"The way that he spoke to the crowd and took his time to properly
introduce songs and describe them in a way that everyone could
understand and appreciate was amazing. His passion for words was
really something amazing to have had the opportunity to see in person."
? Ken Kelley is a Moncton-based writer, music fanatic and author of
the entertainment blog musicnerd.ca
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress