SMALL SINGERS OF ARMENIA’S REVELATION IN PARIS

ArmenPress
June 3 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS: The biggest revelation at a May 22
concert at Palais de Congres in Paris, that was celebrating French
singer, song writer and actor Charles Aznavour’s 80-th anniversary
was Small Singers of Armenia group, headed by composer and conductor
Tigran Hekekian. They performed Aznavour’s Pour Toi, Armenia (For You,
Armenia) song. The song was written after the terrible earthquake that
hit Armenia in 1988, when Aznavour brought in 89 artists to record
‘Pour Toi Armenie,” which was the first of the top fifty from the
first week it was out, remained on top of the list during several
weeks and sold over 2 million records in France.

The famous US singer, Liza Minelli that was among the guests, invited
by Aznavour, was delighted with the performance and was trying even to
replicate Armenian words. The Small Singers then performed another
song together with Aznavour in French. Hekekian said he noticed
tears in the eyes of Aznavour when he was listening to the children
singing Pour Toi, Armenie, while Liza Minelli said she was ready to
help issue a CD with the recording of the song.

French president Jacques Chirac reportedly asked the Armenian
ambassador to France to convey to Armenian president Kocharian that:
“You have a wonderful children choir that represents Armenia at the
highest level.”

In 1998 Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users
of Time Online from around the globe with nearly 18% of the total vote,
edging out such greats as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.

Born in Paris of Armenian parents he made his debut at the age of nine,
acting, dancing, singing, and he has not left the stage since then,
except for a short period during the Second World War. His first song
“J’ai Bu” received first prize for the record of the year. After that
his songs were one success after the other, and several great singers
sang and recorded them. among them were Edith Piaff, Maurice Chevalier,
Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Shirley Bassey, Fred Astaire, Liza Minelli,
Placido Domingo.

For his role in “La Tete Contre Les Murs” he received the prize of
the Crystal Star as the best the male actor. Sixty other acting roles
followed, among them -Tirez sur le Pianiste” by Francois Truffaut,
“Un Taxi pour Tobrouk”, “Le Diable et les Dix Commandments”, “Les
Aventuriers” and “Le Tambour” In 1997 President Jacques Chirac named
Charles Aznavour “Officier de la Legion d’Honneur,” the highest honor
in France.