Charles Aznavour receives symbolic key to house-museum in Yerevan

A house-museum, dedicated to Charles Aznavour, a prominent chansonnier of Armenian descent, will be operating in Yerevan. The Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, handed over a symbolic key to the museum to Charles Aznavour today.

The museum was constructed a long time ago. It is located in the very heart of Yerevan, in the northern part of the capital’s Cascade complex. It’s not a typical museum building, since it is designed for dwelling as well.

According to Kristina Sargsyan, the director of the Aznavour Foundation, it will be a unique, interactive museum, the ‘character’ of which will share his story with the visitors in his own voice; some episodes from Aznavour’s concerts will be reproduced in 3D-format.

“It’s not a classic museum. It will accommodate a comprehensive recording studio, where visitors will have a chance to produce mixes from Charles Aznavour’s songs. The chansonnier’s personal belongings will also be exhibited there, including his first piano, LP records from his collection, performed by Edit Piaf, Frank Sinatra etc.” Kristina Sargsyan noted.

Charles Aznavour said that the opening of such a museum was a great honor and pleasure for him: “I’m grateful for your generous gift. I made this decision with trust and confidence, and, together with my son, Nicolas Aznavour, we founded the Aznavour Foundation, which will continue the activities I started after the devastating 1988 earthquake.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported this project: President Serzh Sargsyan and his staff, along with the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs. This project wouldn’t come true without our partners, including our strategic partnership with the co-founders of the IdeA Foundation, especially, personally with Ruben Vardanyan, who spared no efforts for implementation of our projects.”

Aznavour said that the house-museum would become not only an interactive multimedia museum, but also a youth center,and an important tourist attraction.

The museum will host its first guests in 2018.