Egypt will stage two major concerts next week celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary singer Charles Aznavour, events held under the auspices of the French and Armenian embassies.
The announcement was made Thursday evening at a press conference hosted by the organizing committee at the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile Hotel. The tribute concerts, titled “The Century Tribute—From Me to Aznavour,” are scheduled for December 7 at the Cairo Opera House and December 9 at the Alexandria Opera House.
Event organizer Huda Abboud framed the celebrations as a significant cultural milestone. “Today, we are not only celebrating the centenary of an international artist, but we are also celebrating the value of art, the power of creative influence, and Egypt’s position as a hub for arts and culture,” Abboud told attendees. She emphasized the event’s role in building “cultural bridges between peoples.”
The performances will feature Lebanese artist Ghassan Yammine, who will reinterpret Aznavour’s repertoire accompanied by the Nile Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Mohammad Saad Basha.
Yammine, known for blending Arab authenticity with a global sound, expressed his deep personal connection to Aznavour’s work. “I’ve loved him since childhood… The first thing that caught my attention in his song was the lyrics, even before the music,” Yammine said, recalling having met the icon several times in Paris.
The conference highlighted Aznavour’s extraordinary career. Born in Paris in 1924 to an Armenian family, the artist often called “France’s Frank Sinatra” sold over 180 million records across seven decades, performed in nine languages, and starred in more than 80 films. He was also recognized for his humanitarian work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and for his advocacy for the Armenian cause.
Organizers confirmed that these will be the first full-orchestra presentations of Aznavour’s work in Egypt. The events are sponsored by several corporate entities, including Crédit Agricole Egypt and Hilton Cairo Grand Nile, with support from media partners.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essaafi)
