The organizing committee of « The Century Tribute – From Me to Aznavour » has held a press conference this evening; Thursday, December 4th, at the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile Hotel -formerly Grand Hyatt- in the Nile Expo Ballroom, in the presence of media representatives, and a group of diplomatic, cultural and artistic figures. There will be an official announcement of the two grand concerts which will be held in Egypt on December 7th, 2025, at Cairo Opera House, and December 9th, 2025, at Alexandria Opera House, in celebration of the centenary of the birth of the legendary singer Charles Aznavour, under the auspices of the French Embassy and the Armenian Embassy in Egypt.
During the conference, the event’s organizer, Huda Abboud, emphasized the importance of the event on the artistic and cultural levels and its role in promoting cultural bridges between peoples. She noted that celebrating Aznavour is not limited to honoring a global artist; it is a celebration of the value of art and the legacy of one of the most prominent human voices of the twentieth century. She stated, « It is an exceptional cultural event, held under the auspices of the Armenian and French Embassies in Cairo, in celebration of the centenary of the world-renowned artist Charles Aznavour… Today, we are not only celebrating the centenary of an international artist, but we are also celebrating the value of art, power of creative influence, and Egypt’s position as a hub for arts and culture on the regional and global levels ».
Moreover, the conference highlighted the participation of Lebanese artist Ghassan Yammine who will perform at the two concerts with a unique musical experience; representing Aznavour’s works with a new spirit and accompanied by the Nile Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mohammad Saad Basha. On his part, Ghassan expressed his pleasure at participating in such a huge event. Concerning his connection with Aznavour, he said, « I’ve loved him since childhood. He was part of our daily life at home, and I was fortunate to meet him many times. He invited me to his concerts in Paris every year. The first thing that caught my attention in his song was the lyrics, even before the music. Despite the fact that I’m a musician, I have a special connection with lyrics ». That’s how he expressed his deep connection to Aznavour’s artistic legacy.
Yammine is regarded as one of the most prominent Lebanese voices. He is distinguished by his ability to blend Arab authenticity with global spirit. Furthermore, he’s proficient in singing in multiple languages, including Arabic and French. Since his beginnings, he became famous in « Art Studio » program. Later, he performed in Arab and European concerts, during which he presented masterpieces of esteemed singers like Fairuz, Umm Kulthum, and Abdel Halim Hafez, in addition to Aznavour’s works, for which he presents an integrated art project.
During the conference, the career of the French-Armenian artist Charles Aznavour, AKA « France’s Frank Sinatra », was reviewed. He was born in Paris in 1924 to an Armenian family, and started his career at the age of nine, before being introduced by the Legendary Édith Piaf. Over the course of seven decades, he sold over 180 million albums, sang in nine languages, and presented immortal works, including: « La Bohème », « She », « For Me… Formidable », « Hier Encore », and « Emmenez-moi ». Besides, he took part in over 80 films, wrote over 1400 songs and received international awards. Regarding his humanitarian works, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador and supported the Armenian cause.
Eventually, the organizers confirmed that both concerts represent a significant milestone in the global artistic events held in Egypt, for Aznavour’s works will be presented with full orchestral arrangements for the first time in the country, with the participation of the Nile Symphony Orchestra and a number of talented musicians. Additionally, the organizing committee thanked the official sponsors; Crédit Agricole, Emeco, Hilton Cairo Grand Nile, Hyde Park Developments, and Ora, along with media partners; Al Kahera Wal Nas, Nile FM, Al-Ahram Hebdo, Enigma and Egyptian Streets.
