Monument to  great Chansonnier unveiled in  Yerevan

ArmInfo.  Despite the merciless sun, Charles Aznavour Square in Yerevan was filled with a large crowd from early morning. The music of the great Chansonnier was played, creating a genuine and inexplicable feeling of something bright, great and deeply touching. Yerevan residents gathered in the square under the scorching sun to witness the unveiling of the monument to Charles Aznavour, the installation of which was announced by the capital's mayor's office a year and a half ago. 

 The sculptor, David Minasyan, shared during the opening ceremony  that when the competition was announced, the first thing that came to  his mind was that the monument should not have a pedestal, and  Aznavour should appear to "float". Then the idea came to him to  connect this feeling of flight with the song La Boheme.  Calling it  symbolic that the monument casting took place in Gyumri (Charles  Aznavour personally supervised aid for the affected residents of  Gyumri after the devastating earthquake of 1988 - ed.), he expressed  gratitude to the Papoyan family of sculptors, who efficiently helped  him carry out all the necessary work , the author of  the sculpture said.

Charles Aznavour's son, Nicolas Aznavour, was present at the opening  ceremony, and shared a personal and touching story related to his  father and this square. According to him, when visiting Yerevan,  Chansonnier always stayed in the hotel located here and loved to look  out the window at this square, which was always full of stories and  life. ,  said Nicolas.  He   noted that his father was passionately in love with Armenia, which  was not limited to words, but also reflected in his actions. Charles  Aznavour, according to his son, carried Armenia in his heart and on  all world stages. He believed in the strength of this country, its  culture and future. For the same reason, the Chansonnier made a lot  of efforts to ensure that  his family would come and settle in  Armenia to continue his mission here. "This statue belongs to the  entire Armenian people, and to all those around the world who loved  and continue to love Aznavour," said Nicolas, expressing gratitude to  the mayor of Yerevan for the initiative, and to the sculptor for his  talent and depth of concept. 

Note that the opening ceremony was also attended by  mayor of Yerevan  Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of  Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan, and French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier  Decottignies.  A delegation from France included the vice-mayor of  Paris and the mayor of the Ile-de-France region.